Raymond Gaynor's Blog, page 8
August 13, 2022
ON ACTING AND AUTHORING
YESTERDAY, I posted on Writing and Authoring. Today I’d like to talk a bit about Acting, a late-in-life career for me. It began with the opportunity of playing the lead role in the K. Simmons Production of STATIC (2021) — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15420946 — and supporting actor roles in the Kurt Ken Kaminaka Production of THE PERFECT ILLUSION (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt18690318) as well as the upcoming films THE MALTESE COLLECTION (https://ksmediagroupinc.com/maltese-c...), FINDING KATE (https://ksmediagroupinc.com/finding-kate) and the 2 Liters’ Shady Films Production of MOCOS (https://janik.yolasite.com/mocos.php).
Acting and authoring (I have authored and published over 60 books and articles, and am the recipient of eight literary awards– https://janik.yolasite.com/janik.php) share several attributes, the most prominent in my opinion being authentically the putting oneself in another’s shoes. That attribute, which I call “true” empathy to distinguish it from mere “stated” empathy, is, again in my opin, one of the key, guiding traits of humanism. They differ in that the characters in books, ebooks and audiobooks are dimensionally constrained compared to movie and film characters. Still, if authoring is a subset of acting in general, it isn’t in detail. That is, being a good actor doesn’t mean one will be a good author and vice versa. Personally, I find acting particularly fulfilling, but, at the same time, would never give up my authoring.
They are also both similar and different regarding the business of acting and authoring. In both, reader/viewer quality is paramount, and name-and-book-or-movie title recognition is singularly important. Both have a complex business structure that can make “breaking into the field” especially difficult. A history of quality, current name/title recognition (often translating to having at least a million lifetime copies sold), is almost a requirement to join an established, traditional publisher or production company. Producing a theater-quality movie/film, however, is orders of magnitude times more expensive an investment (I would have to say gamble) both for the producer and actor, than publishing a good book. And once “broken in,” the process only then truly begins with the need to continue to author books or appear in films, each time with higher earning expectations.
When asked if I would recommend authoring or acting, I often remind that “many are called, but few are chosen.” Like other humanities, professional authoring and acting success stories are few and far between. One actor-friend likened acting to going to Las Vegas to make money. There is, however, something uniquely human about the humanities that can be strongly compelling, whether one remains an amateur writer or actor, or “goes professional.” If the latter, I strongly recommend a second, third or fourth career to consistently “pay the bills.” In my case, my second career has been dancing, silly boy that I am.
The Edge of Madness
#DanielSJanik #RaymondGaynor #GaryMartine #author #actor #book #ebook #audiobook #movie #film #acting #STATIC #ThePerfectIllusion #TheMalteseCollection #FindingKate #KSimmons #Kurt Ken Kaminaka #2 Liter’s Shady Films #humanities #gamble #professional
Acting and authoring (I have authored and published over 60 books and articles, and am the recipient of eight literary awards– https://janik.yolasite.com/janik.php) share several attributes, the most prominent in my opinion being authentically the putting oneself in another’s shoes. That attribute, which I call “true” empathy to distinguish it from mere “stated” empathy, is, again in my opin, one of the key, guiding traits of humanism. They differ in that the characters in books, ebooks and audiobooks are dimensionally constrained compared to movie and film characters. Still, if authoring is a subset of acting in general, it isn’t in detail. That is, being a good actor doesn’t mean one will be a good author and vice versa. Personally, I find acting particularly fulfilling, but, at the same time, would never give up my authoring.
They are also both similar and different regarding the business of acting and authoring. In both, reader/viewer quality is paramount, and name-and-book-or-movie title recognition is singularly important. Both have a complex business structure that can make “breaking into the field” especially difficult. A history of quality, current name/title recognition (often translating to having at least a million lifetime copies sold), is almost a requirement to join an established, traditional publisher or production company. Producing a theater-quality movie/film, however, is orders of magnitude times more expensive an investment (I would have to say gamble) both for the producer and actor, than publishing a good book. And once “broken in,” the process only then truly begins with the need to continue to author books or appear in films, each time with higher earning expectations.
When asked if I would recommend authoring or acting, I often remind that “many are called, but few are chosen.” Like other humanities, professional authoring and acting success stories are few and far between. One actor-friend likened acting to going to Las Vegas to make money. There is, however, something uniquely human about the humanities that can be strongly compelling, whether one remains an amateur writer or actor, or “goes professional.” If the latter, I strongly recommend a second, third or fourth career to consistently “pay the bills.” In my case, my second career has been dancing, silly boy that I am.
The Edge of Madness
#DanielSJanik #RaymondGaynor #GaryMartine #author #actor #book #ebook #audiobook #movie #film #acting #STATIC #ThePerfectIllusion #TheMalteseCollection #FindingKate #KSimmons #Kurt Ken Kaminaka #2 Liter’s Shady Films #humanities #gamble #professional
August 12, 2022
ON WRITING AND AUTHORING
Ernest Hemingway once said, “There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.” After 5 decades of writing, or more precisely authoring (meaning writing for a specific readership), I feel as if my life is a perfect testament to that. That veil between what I feel compelled to say and what I actually need to say, grows fainter with each passing year. I’ve been asked several times, “About what do you have so much to say?” — admittedly a paraphrase — but still on point, which is, in my mind, another way of asking, “Why would anyone sit around and record life when they could be directly experiencing it?”
Frankly, I’ve no clever, flippant response to Hemingway other than to admit I’ve yet to write or sell as many books as he. Literarily anemia, okay, I’ll also admit to that, having pontificated through the dialog of endless fictional characters over the years. As for having so much to say when, in fact, in crowds of even supportive people I definitely clam up, maybe it’s the anonymity of writing that is so compelling, which, having said that and read earlier today about the attack on author Salman Rushdie onstage, in public, supposedly with security, I’m suddenly not so sure about the anonymity part.
As for why anyone would sit around and record life (fictitious, non-fictitious or “historical novel” in style) in the form of a literary adventurer? Well, it sometimes feels like and often provides a respite from life, which, these days seems anything like author Douglas Adams’ characterization of Earth as “mostly safe.” Personally, I can’t believe how contentious, intolerant and impetuous people have become. Then again, maybe humans have always been. In fact, maybe that’s the long-sought-after definition of what being human actually means across the ages. But I don’t like to believe that. I prefer believing in the immense positive potential of humanity over the “business” of being human within which so many these days seem wrapped.
In the end, whatever the reason, the call to author — to entertain, to record for posterity, to advise generations to come — is powerful and present within, and I more rather “fall into it” than control it.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0999693859
THE EDGE OF MADNESS (Aignos 2020) is available in printed, digital and audiobook formats, and has been purchased for manga, animation and cinematic treatment.
#RaymondGaynor #DanielSJanik #writer #author #actor #Hemingway #TheEdgeOfMadness #book #ebook #audiobook #Amazon #GooglePlay #AppleBooks #Rushdie #DouglasAdams #human #humanity #manga #animation #movie #film
Frankly, I’ve no clever, flippant response to Hemingway other than to admit I’ve yet to write or sell as many books as he. Literarily anemia, okay, I’ll also admit to that, having pontificated through the dialog of endless fictional characters over the years. As for having so much to say when, in fact, in crowds of even supportive people I definitely clam up, maybe it’s the anonymity of writing that is so compelling, which, having said that and read earlier today about the attack on author Salman Rushdie onstage, in public, supposedly with security, I’m suddenly not so sure about the anonymity part.
As for why anyone would sit around and record life (fictitious, non-fictitious or “historical novel” in style) in the form of a literary adventurer? Well, it sometimes feels like and often provides a respite from life, which, these days seems anything like author Douglas Adams’ characterization of Earth as “mostly safe.” Personally, I can’t believe how contentious, intolerant and impetuous people have become. Then again, maybe humans have always been. In fact, maybe that’s the long-sought-after definition of what being human actually means across the ages. But I don’t like to believe that. I prefer believing in the immense positive potential of humanity over the “business” of being human within which so many these days seem wrapped.
In the end, whatever the reason, the call to author — to entertain, to record for posterity, to advise generations to come — is powerful and present within, and I more rather “fall into it” than control it.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0999693859
THE EDGE OF MADNESS (Aignos 2020) is available in printed, digital and audiobook formats, and has been purchased for manga, animation and cinematic treatment.
#RaymondGaynor #DanielSJanik #writer #author #actor #Hemingway #TheEdgeOfMadness #book #ebook #audiobook #Amazon #GooglePlay #AppleBooks #Rushdie #DouglasAdams #human #humanity #manga #animation #movie #film
August 11, 2022
THE STARS WERE OUT THIS AFTERNOON
OKAY, so the stars are out 24/7, they’re just hidden by the sun in the afternoon. Except for OUR star, the sun which is exactly the opposite, which is glory-blazing in the afternoon and hidden at night. At night my fav stars are The Seven Sisters, Cassiopeia (the “W” constellation), and Hanaiakamalama (the Southern Cross), not to forget Polaris (Alpha Ursae Minoris), the “pole” star of the Northern Hemisphere, or Polaris Australis (Sigma Octantis), the Southern “pole” star.
But, hey, I’m talking here of two human stars, Daniel S. Janik and Setsuko Tsuchiya, who today were out and about in Honolulu during the bright afternoon, true, with jacketed, hatted, masked and sunglassed. Who would recognize Will Gardner (“Stand still so I can hit you!”), the star of the K. Simmons Production STATIC (2021) without beard, grey hair or glasses, or Setsuko Tsuchiya, who played vivacious Edna (“I won! I won! I won!”) in the same production — https://ksmediagroupinc.com/the-stati... or https://janik.yolasite.com/actor.php for BTW (behind-the-scenes phots and videos). If you haven’t yet seen STATIC, now is the time to grab your own High Definition DVD ($16.99 — https://kunaki.com/Sales.asp?PID=PX00...).
Or if you’re not blinded by stars, how about Daniel S. Janik (aka author Raymond Gaynor of THE EDGE OF MADNESS — https://www.amazon.com/dp/0999693859) and Setsuko Tsuchiya, author of IN SEARCH OF SOMATIC THERAPY — https://www.amazon.com/dp/0997247231 — together, in public!
#DanielSJanik #SetsukoTsuchiya #star #movie #film #actor #actress #SevenSisters #Cassiopeia #SouthernCross #Polaris #Honolulu #STATIC #WillGardner #Edna #KSimmonsProduction #DVD #StarWatching #RaymondGaynor #TheEdgeOfMadness #InSearchOfSomaticTherapy #author
But, hey, I’m talking here of two human stars, Daniel S. Janik and Setsuko Tsuchiya, who today were out and about in Honolulu during the bright afternoon, true, with jacketed, hatted, masked and sunglassed. Who would recognize Will Gardner (“Stand still so I can hit you!”), the star of the K. Simmons Production STATIC (2021) without beard, grey hair or glasses, or Setsuko Tsuchiya, who played vivacious Edna (“I won! I won! I won!”) in the same production — https://ksmediagroupinc.com/the-stati... or https://janik.yolasite.com/actor.php for BTW (behind-the-scenes phots and videos). If you haven’t yet seen STATIC, now is the time to grab your own High Definition DVD ($16.99 — https://kunaki.com/Sales.asp?PID=PX00...).
Or if you’re not blinded by stars, how about Daniel S. Janik (aka author Raymond Gaynor of THE EDGE OF MADNESS — https://www.amazon.com/dp/0999693859) and Setsuko Tsuchiya, author of IN SEARCH OF SOMATIC THERAPY — https://www.amazon.com/dp/0997247231 — together, in public!
#DanielSJanik #SetsukoTsuchiya #star #movie #film #actor #actress #SevenSisters #Cassiopeia #SouthernCross #Polaris #Honolulu #STATIC #WillGardner #Edna #KSimmonsProduction #DVD #StarWatching #RaymondGaynor #TheEdgeOfMadness #InSearchOfSomaticTherapy #author
August 9, 2022
HOLD – FRAME – POSTURE
AFTER 20 years of dancing, it all up to hold, frame and posture. I know how to dance. I have gotten to the point where I can experience the sheer joy of moving with my partner through time and space. I’ve done performances and competition as I know my strengths and weaknesses. Now it’s all about replacing tine details with ones that better project our dancing so I can share my joy with onlookers.
I say “my,” but, of course, if it weren’t for my partner in International-style Ballroom and Latin-American dance, Setsuko Tsuchiya, and our years of dancing together as one, there would be no “my.” Thank you, dear Setsuko, for hanging in there for all these years. Ballroom (which technically includes Latin-American) dancing can be a lifelong pursuit. One promising infinite improvement and enjoyment as well as the opportunity to know one’s partner in ways even marriage often doesn’t afford.
Today, Daniel S. Janik and Setsuko Tsuchiya have the pleasure of practicing for an “honor dance” choreographed by Mr. Albert Franz for the upcoming K. Simmons Production of FINDING KATE — https://janik.yolasite.com/actor.php (just click on “FINDING KATE” or any other movie that might be of interest for Behind-the-Scenes photos and videos or go directly to the K. Simmons Production website for more information at https://ksmediagroupinc.com/finding-kate.
#DanielSJanik #SetsukoTsuchiya #dance #ballroom #Latin-American #international #hold #frame #posture #joy #performance #competition #KSimmonsProduction #FindingKate #HonorDance #BTS #photo #video #practice #AlbertFranz #actor #actress #dancer #film #movie
I say “my,” but, of course, if it weren’t for my partner in International-style Ballroom and Latin-American dance, Setsuko Tsuchiya, and our years of dancing together as one, there would be no “my.” Thank you, dear Setsuko, for hanging in there for all these years. Ballroom (which technically includes Latin-American) dancing can be a lifelong pursuit. One promising infinite improvement and enjoyment as well as the opportunity to know one’s partner in ways even marriage often doesn’t afford.
Today, Daniel S. Janik and Setsuko Tsuchiya have the pleasure of practicing for an “honor dance” choreographed by Mr. Albert Franz for the upcoming K. Simmons Production of FINDING KATE — https://janik.yolasite.com/actor.php (just click on “FINDING KATE” or any other movie that might be of interest for Behind-the-Scenes photos and videos or go directly to the K. Simmons Production website for more information at https://ksmediagroupinc.com/finding-kate.
#DanielSJanik #SetsukoTsuchiya #dance #ballroom #Latin-American #international #hold #frame #posture #joy #performance #competition #KSimmonsProduction #FindingKate #HonorDance #BTS #photo #video #practice #AlbertFranz #actor #actress #dancer #film #movie
August 6, 2022
VENI, VIDI…I WENT BACK TO BED
SO much hype these days about new opportunities to “make money fast” — I call persons who heed and act on this type of call “Fast Eddies” — when, in fact, the only institution that really “makes money” is a mint, and nowadays, only representations of money, being illusions representing the great illusion, money. It isn’t altogether inappropriate to try to “make money,” though counterfeiting is indeed a federal crime — a no-no in the all to human game of money, which, whether we like it or not, are forced to large extent to play or at least participate. Still, money, like that other great illusion, power, is a distinctly human-made game, and a particularly ruthless one at that.
With all the “get rich quick” schemes being offered today, what is it that most really want? For many with a family, it’s a sense of safety and protection. For others, it’s a sense of satisfaction and possibly a claim to immortality through work. For a select few, it’s simply the journey and experience. Or some combination of these. But money and power, while they can open opportunities that without might remain closed, rarely, in the long run result in the commonly desired sense of safety, protection, satisfaction, claim to immortality or even the journey and experience.
I’ve even been pressed to consider money and power, one or two of the foretold Biblical Beasts leading to Armageddon. But, if so, they are at best illusory Beasts, existing only in the minds of adherents and worshippers. Illusory Beasts that are defeated simply by refusing to “believe” in them and their power of humans. Money is often said to be the “grease” that keeps the wheels of progress going. I wonder what is to come after or even replace money and power. Bit coins and the United Nations? Possibly, but not enough people want to “believe” in either. Yet. Still, I wonder what humans will invent next to justify Fast Eddies and the idea of getting rich quick.
In my Amazon genre bestseller, THE EDGE OF MADNESS (Aignos 2020) by Raymond Gaynor — https://www.amazon.com/dp/0999693859, I delve deep into these questions and present not just possible (fictitious) but plausible (futuring) answers for readers to ponder. Grab a copy, take a peek into an all too plausible future. Just peeking will allow you to decide if this all-too-likely future is what YOU want, giving you a choice as to how to act. Try it, and, hey, you might like it!
Video Book Preview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Je6CC...
#DanielSJanik #RaymondGaynor #TheEdgeOfMadness #money #power #book #ebook #audiobook #MakeMoney #FastEddie #GetRichQuick #safety #protection #satisfaction #immortality #journey #Beast #belief #ScienceFiction #ScienceFantasy #Science #future #futuring
With all the “get rich quick” schemes being offered today, what is it that most really want? For many with a family, it’s a sense of safety and protection. For others, it’s a sense of satisfaction and possibly a claim to immortality through work. For a select few, it’s simply the journey and experience. Or some combination of these. But money and power, while they can open opportunities that without might remain closed, rarely, in the long run result in the commonly desired sense of safety, protection, satisfaction, claim to immortality or even the journey and experience.
I’ve even been pressed to consider money and power, one or two of the foretold Biblical Beasts leading to Armageddon. But, if so, they are at best illusory Beasts, existing only in the minds of adherents and worshippers. Illusory Beasts that are defeated simply by refusing to “believe” in them and their power of humans. Money is often said to be the “grease” that keeps the wheels of progress going. I wonder what is to come after or even replace money and power. Bit coins and the United Nations? Possibly, but not enough people want to “believe” in either. Yet. Still, I wonder what humans will invent next to justify Fast Eddies and the idea of getting rich quick.
In my Amazon genre bestseller, THE EDGE OF MADNESS (Aignos 2020) by Raymond Gaynor — https://www.amazon.com/dp/0999693859, I delve deep into these questions and present not just possible (fictitious) but plausible (futuring) answers for readers to ponder. Grab a copy, take a peek into an all too plausible future. Just peeking will allow you to decide if this all-too-likely future is what YOU want, giving you a choice as to how to act. Try it, and, hey, you might like it!
Video Book Preview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Je6CC...
#DanielSJanik #RaymondGaynor #TheEdgeOfMadness #money #power #book #ebook #audiobook #MakeMoney #FastEddie #GetRichQuick #safety #protection #satisfaction #immortality #journey #Beast #belief #ScienceFiction #ScienceFantasy #Science #future #futuring
August 5, 2022
THE GREATEST ILLUSIONS
I’VE posted numerous times about my opinion regarding money and power, both human-created illusions that it’s possible have brought more misery to humanity, the biosphere and planet than any other individual factors, existing as I believe they do, beneath the fabled four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. My point, however is that they are not the only greatest illusions but they are human-made.
To these two, I am rapidly approaching the point where I will have to add a third: Time. H.G. Wells in his THE TIME MACHINE, wrote about the possibility of time travel. Before he passed, Dr. Steven Hawking toyed with the idea that theoretically at the Event Horizon of a black hole, time might be so distorted that one could travel backwards. To this I would add that “according to theoretical physicist Carlo Rovelli, time is an illusion: our naive perception of its flow doesn’t correspond to physical reality. Indeed, as Rovelli argues in The Order of Time, much more is illusory, including Isaac Newton’s picture of a universally ticking clock.” — https://www.nature.com/articles/d4158.... Even more recently, with the James Webb telescope, scientists have claimed to be able to look back to 100 million years after the Big Bang –- which happened around 13.8 billion years ago. Even more recently, the possibility and even the plausibility of travel through space/time via “wormholes” has become a hot topic.
This brings up an interesting corollary: If backwards time travel is plausible, what about forwards time travel? If a black hole is constantly sucking in matter, where does it exit? Inside our universe or another? And if it does, where exactly can we direct the James Webb telescope to look for this “entrance” back into our universe, either from matter from this universe or others? Perhaps the greatest challenge today’s generation will face is identifying illusion from reality.
Despite the potential paradoxes of space/time travel, I believe there is every evidence that at least backward time travel is possible, if not in body, through instrumentation like the James Webb telescope. I’m currently writing the sequel to THE EDGE OF MADNESS (Aignos 2020) by Raymond Gaynor called “Prophecy” that delves directly into this topic, including the nature of the soul and its potential role in space/time travel — https://janik.yolasite.com/author.php.
May I invite you to join me in what promises to be the ultimate adventure trip in “Prophecy?” Get ready! Grab a copy of THE EDGE OF MADNESS to prepare. Then buckle your space belt and get ready for the ride of a lifetime with “Prophecy.”
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0999693859
THE EDGE OF MADNESS by Raymond Gaynor is available in printed, digital and audiobook format from Amazon, and digital format from GooglyPlay and Apple Books. Recipient of an Amsterdam Book Festival Award, it has been purchased by K. Simmons Production for further treatment in manga, animation and cinematic formats.
#DanielSJanik #RaymondGaynor #TheEdgeOfMadness #illusion #biosphere #time #travel #space/time #money #power #FourHorsemen #apocalypse #misery #HGWells #TheTimeMachine #JamesWebb #telescope #BlackHole #EventHorizon #wormhole #Newton #Einstein #soul #book #ebook #audiobook #manga #animation #cinema #film #movie #KSimmonsProductions
To these two, I am rapidly approaching the point where I will have to add a third: Time. H.G. Wells in his THE TIME MACHINE, wrote about the possibility of time travel. Before he passed, Dr. Steven Hawking toyed with the idea that theoretically at the Event Horizon of a black hole, time might be so distorted that one could travel backwards. To this I would add that “according to theoretical physicist Carlo Rovelli, time is an illusion: our naive perception of its flow doesn’t correspond to physical reality. Indeed, as Rovelli argues in The Order of Time, much more is illusory, including Isaac Newton’s picture of a universally ticking clock.” — https://www.nature.com/articles/d4158.... Even more recently, with the James Webb telescope, scientists have claimed to be able to look back to 100 million years after the Big Bang –- which happened around 13.8 billion years ago. Even more recently, the possibility and even the plausibility of travel through space/time via “wormholes” has become a hot topic.
This brings up an interesting corollary: If backwards time travel is plausible, what about forwards time travel? If a black hole is constantly sucking in matter, where does it exit? Inside our universe or another? And if it does, where exactly can we direct the James Webb telescope to look for this “entrance” back into our universe, either from matter from this universe or others? Perhaps the greatest challenge today’s generation will face is identifying illusion from reality.
Despite the potential paradoxes of space/time travel, I believe there is every evidence that at least backward time travel is possible, if not in body, through instrumentation like the James Webb telescope. I’m currently writing the sequel to THE EDGE OF MADNESS (Aignos 2020) by Raymond Gaynor called “Prophecy” that delves directly into this topic, including the nature of the soul and its potential role in space/time travel — https://janik.yolasite.com/author.php.
May I invite you to join me in what promises to be the ultimate adventure trip in “Prophecy?” Get ready! Grab a copy of THE EDGE OF MADNESS to prepare. Then buckle your space belt and get ready for the ride of a lifetime with “Prophecy.”
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0999693859
THE EDGE OF MADNESS by Raymond Gaynor is available in printed, digital and audiobook format from Amazon, and digital format from GooglyPlay and Apple Books. Recipient of an Amsterdam Book Festival Award, it has been purchased by K. Simmons Production for further treatment in manga, animation and cinematic formats.
#DanielSJanik #RaymondGaynor #TheEdgeOfMadness #illusion #biosphere #time #travel #space/time #money #power #FourHorsemen #apocalypse #misery #HGWells #TheTimeMachine #JamesWebb #telescope #BlackHole #EventHorizon #wormhole #Newton #Einstein #soul #book #ebook #audiobook #manga #animation #cinema #film #movie #KSimmonsProductions
August 4, 2022
WHAT TO DO WITH ALL THE WEAPONS OF WAR?
GIVE a person a pen and a new author emerges. But give a person a gun or a nation the weapons of war, and what does one do with it? Safekeep it. Then, after a time, practice with it. Once trained, deploy it. When the opportunity presents, use it. One of the most dangerous aspects of weaponizing is the compelling pull to use it for what it was created. To kill. Whether an animal, human, or simply by virtue of purchasing such a weapon and its required means of killing (e.g. expendable bullets, grenades, missiles, nuclear warheads) Gaia, the living Earth, and its inhabitants, one weapon in one person’s hands eventually leads to death.
Okay, call me an anti-gun nut, and, you know, you’d be right. On a barely inhabited Earth, one weapon can be deemed inconsequential (unless, of course you are the target of the weapon). On a densely overpopulated Earth with growing shortages of clean potable water, food and air, the effects of utilizing one weapon can be catastrophic, and often are. In my opinion, the argument that one must be armed with equal power to defend against another is little more than an excuse for escalating weaponization. In defense of my opinion, I would remind that humans have a unique characteristic of being unable to handle money or power, two “games” created by humans that are, in the wrong hands, just as damaging as projectile-shooting weapons.
We humans are gifted with a myriad of ways to protect ourselves, and while it may often seem it’s a “dog-eat-dog” world, we have voices, discussion, debate and the ability to cooperate. These “weapons” don’t require the destruction of the climate or Earth. Learning to live together seems to be one of the greatest challenges to humanity of all time, and with dense living conditions springing up everywhere, perhaps THE greatest challenge. For me, it all begins with two actions: First, the refusal to participate in the weaponization of the world. The second is a commitment to dialog, cooperation and compromise.
As an author and actor, Daniel S. Janik (aka Raymond Gaynor and Gary Martine) I make it a daily pledge to honor these to actions which are within my control, and I try to reflect this in my books and films. It isn’t perfect, nor am I consistent in my success. However, each day I live by these two basic actions, I take a small step towards the much needed evolution of Homo sapiens.
#DanielSJanik #RaymondGaynor #GaryMartine #author #actor #gun #war #weapon #Gaia #death #illusion #power #money #discussion #debate #dialog #compromise #cooperation #book #film #movie #evolution
Okay, call me an anti-gun nut, and, you know, you’d be right. On a barely inhabited Earth, one weapon can be deemed inconsequential (unless, of course you are the target of the weapon). On a densely overpopulated Earth with growing shortages of clean potable water, food and air, the effects of utilizing one weapon can be catastrophic, and often are. In my opinion, the argument that one must be armed with equal power to defend against another is little more than an excuse for escalating weaponization. In defense of my opinion, I would remind that humans have a unique characteristic of being unable to handle money or power, two “games” created by humans that are, in the wrong hands, just as damaging as projectile-shooting weapons.
We humans are gifted with a myriad of ways to protect ourselves, and while it may often seem it’s a “dog-eat-dog” world, we have voices, discussion, debate and the ability to cooperate. These “weapons” don’t require the destruction of the climate or Earth. Learning to live together seems to be one of the greatest challenges to humanity of all time, and with dense living conditions springing up everywhere, perhaps THE greatest challenge. For me, it all begins with two actions: First, the refusal to participate in the weaponization of the world. The second is a commitment to dialog, cooperation and compromise.
As an author and actor, Daniel S. Janik (aka Raymond Gaynor and Gary Martine) I make it a daily pledge to honor these to actions which are within my control, and I try to reflect this in my books and films. It isn’t perfect, nor am I consistent in my success. However, each day I live by these two basic actions, I take a small step towards the much needed evolution of Homo sapiens.
#DanielSJanik #RaymondGaynor #GaryMartine #author #actor #gun #war #weapon #Gaia #death #illusion #power #money #discussion #debate #dialog #compromise #cooperation #book #film #movie #evolution
July 31, 2022
FRANKLY SPEAKING,
IT’S officially the hurricane season in the Pacific and what’s brewing at this moment is hurricane Frank. Hawaii hurricanes typically begin off Baha California, traveling West-Northwest along with tons of tourists, the hurricane slowly weakening on its way. This year’s hurricane forecast for Hawaii, I’m told, is low both in numbers and intensities, much like income projections for US citizens. Then again, in terms of weather and economics, anything can happen along the way.
If you believe in forecasts, like I generally do, then you’ll have to believe in climate change, the never-endingness of Putin’s Special Operations, China’s determination to go to war over Taiwan, and the inevitability of Trump becoming President again in 2024. But then, if you believe in these forecasts, you should also believe in democracy, the goodness of humankind, success in stewardship of the Earth, and almost every mother’s undying caring for their sons’ and daughters’ best interests. Don’t forget: I did said generally.
But most importantly, it isn’t the end result or end-game, it’s the journey and what we each learn along the way that really counts. After all, it’s not at all easy to predict the results of individual actions, even in the clearest of situations. The Butterfly Effect is ALWAYS at work in the overall scheme of things.
Roll over, Nostradamus, Jean Dixon, Punxsutawny Phil and Paul the Octopus. Toss aside your tempest prognosticator (aka leech barometer). Turn a cold, critical shoulder to Wells, Tesla, Ford and the futuristic industrialists as well as today’s social influencers Edgar Case, Marshall McLuhan and Cristiano Ronaldo. My humble suggestion: (1) Do unto other living things and the Earth as you would have done unto you; and (2) live firmly in the present, being conscious and cognizant of things that repeat (i. e. science) and the usefulness of intuition (i. e. pathos or emotions) when reason and logic fail, which they so often do.
Daniel S. Janik: Actor in STATIC (2021), THE MALTESE COLLECTION (in post-production; 2022/23); THE THE PERFECT ILLUSION (in post-production; 2023), FINDING KATE (in production; 2022/23) and MOCOS (in production; 2023/24). Daniel S. Janik aka Raymond Gaynor/Gary Martine: Author of THE EDGE OF MADNESS (Aignos 2020); QUANTUM DEATH (Savant 2016) with A. G. Hayes; THE TURTLE DANCES (Savant 2013), TOTAL MELTDOWN (Borgo/Wildside 2011) with William Maltese; A WHALE’S TALE (Savant 2009), KINGSLEY & I TOGETHER (MLR 2009); KINGSLEY & I RELOADED (Createspace 2008); KINGSLEY & I (MLR 2008); UNLOCK THE GENIUS WITHIN (R&L Education 2005) and SOURDOUGH SCOTT’S BEDTIME FAIRY TALES FROM ALASKA (Publication Consultants 2005).
#DanielSJanik #RaymondGaynor #GaryMartine #author #actor #forecast #prediction #prognostication #hurricane #ButterflyEffect #ModifiedGoldenRule #conscious #cognizant #science #intuition #emotion #WilliamMaltese #AGHayes #Static #TheMalteseCollection #ThePerfectIllusion #FindingKate #Mocos #TheEdgeOfMadness #QuantumDeath #TheTurtleDances #TotalMeltdown #AWhalesTale #Kingsley&I #UnlockTheGeniusWithin #SourdoughScott #BedtimeFairyTales
If you believe in forecasts, like I generally do, then you’ll have to believe in climate change, the never-endingness of Putin’s Special Operations, China’s determination to go to war over Taiwan, and the inevitability of Trump becoming President again in 2024. But then, if you believe in these forecasts, you should also believe in democracy, the goodness of humankind, success in stewardship of the Earth, and almost every mother’s undying caring for their sons’ and daughters’ best interests. Don’t forget: I did said generally.
But most importantly, it isn’t the end result or end-game, it’s the journey and what we each learn along the way that really counts. After all, it’s not at all easy to predict the results of individual actions, even in the clearest of situations. The Butterfly Effect is ALWAYS at work in the overall scheme of things.
Roll over, Nostradamus, Jean Dixon, Punxsutawny Phil and Paul the Octopus. Toss aside your tempest prognosticator (aka leech barometer). Turn a cold, critical shoulder to Wells, Tesla, Ford and the futuristic industrialists as well as today’s social influencers Edgar Case, Marshall McLuhan and Cristiano Ronaldo. My humble suggestion: (1) Do unto other living things and the Earth as you would have done unto you; and (2) live firmly in the present, being conscious and cognizant of things that repeat (i. e. science) and the usefulness of intuition (i. e. pathos or emotions) when reason and logic fail, which they so often do.
Daniel S. Janik: Actor in STATIC (2021), THE MALTESE COLLECTION (in post-production; 2022/23); THE THE PERFECT ILLUSION (in post-production; 2023), FINDING KATE (in production; 2022/23) and MOCOS (in production; 2023/24). Daniel S. Janik aka Raymond Gaynor/Gary Martine: Author of THE EDGE OF MADNESS (Aignos 2020); QUANTUM DEATH (Savant 2016) with A. G. Hayes; THE TURTLE DANCES (Savant 2013), TOTAL MELTDOWN (Borgo/Wildside 2011) with William Maltese; A WHALE’S TALE (Savant 2009), KINGSLEY & I TOGETHER (MLR 2009); KINGSLEY & I RELOADED (Createspace 2008); KINGSLEY & I (MLR 2008); UNLOCK THE GENIUS WITHIN (R&L Education 2005) and SOURDOUGH SCOTT’S BEDTIME FAIRY TALES FROM ALASKA (Publication Consultants 2005).
#DanielSJanik #RaymondGaynor #GaryMartine #author #actor #forecast #prediction #prognostication #hurricane #ButterflyEffect #ModifiedGoldenRule #conscious #cognizant #science #intuition #emotion #WilliamMaltese #AGHayes #Static #TheMalteseCollection #ThePerfectIllusion #FindingKate #Mocos #TheEdgeOfMadness #QuantumDeath #TheTurtleDances #TotalMeltdown #AWhalesTale #Kingsley&I #UnlockTheGeniusWithin #SourdoughScott #BedtimeFairyTales
July 29, 2022
CHANGING ROLES
AS Daniel S. Janik, former owner of Savant Books and Publications, which was sold on 31 December 2021 to KS Media Group Inc — https://ksmediagroupinc.com — I’m now book production manager while the work of melding the two companies proceeds. Kenny Simmons of KS Media Group Inc and K. Simmons Productions, a “Hawaiiwood” film studio, in the meantime with Executive Producer assistance from me, Setsuko Tsuchiya and Savant Director of Publicity and Marketing, Dr. Michael Davis, is producing and directing the first three proof-of-concept book-to-movie projects.
The first, STATIC (2021) — https://ksmediagroupinc.com/the-stati... — featured me as the lead character, Will Gardner, a curmudgeonous veteran confronting his first battle he can’t win: Alzheimer’s Disease. STATIC (2021), originally written as a screenplay novel by Savant author Richard Rose, was released in 2021 — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15420946.
The second, THE MALTESE COLLECTION — https://ksmediagroupinc.com/maltese-c... — included me as an interviewee, having known the incomparable William Maltese for years and having written TOTAL MELTDOWN (Borgo/Wildside 2006) together — https://www.amazon.com/dp/1434403556. The film bio-documentary is a reprise to William Maltese’s many inspirations, achievements, and lifelong support of erotica, LGBTQ authors and readers. THE MALTESE COLLECTION is currently in post-production and scheduled for airing in 2022/23.
The third, FINDING KATE — https://ksmediagroupinc.com/finding-kate — will include me as myself movie star playing Will Gardner in the filming of STATIC, and again as the dance partner of Setsuko Tsuchiya in an “Honor Dance.” Written by multi-award-winning Savant author, A. G. Hayes as a Savant book of the same name — https://www.amazon.com/dp/0997247215, Kate Keenan develops a computer program that can instantly turn a screenplay into a movie turning the industry upside down. It’s quickly realized that, in the wrong hands, her program could become a threat to national security and no surprise when Kate abruptly goes missing. FINDING KATE is currently in production and scheduled for airing as a six-episode series in 2022/23.
While working on the sequel to my Amazon-genre-bestseller, THE EDGE OF MADNESS by Raymond Gaynor — https://www.amazon.com/dp/0999693859 — I’ve completed my filming as Dr. Stevenson in the Kurt Ken Kaminaka Production of THE PERFECT ILLUSION — https://www.totck.com/the-perfect-ill... — currently in post-production with an anticipated release in 2023, and I’m actively filming as Dr. Grant in the 2-Liter’s Shady Films Production of MOCOS, a world infectious disease epidemic film, currently in early production.
Follow both my acting and authoring exploits at https://janik.yolasite.com with Behind-the-Scenes photos and photo/video vignettes.
The Many Faces of Actor Daniel S. Janik: https://youtu.be/HZwaVvSaHlY
#DanielSJanik #RaymondGaynor #SetsukoTsuchiya #Savant #KSMediaGroupInc #KSimmonsProductions #Hawaiiwood #Static #movie #film #Alzheimer #TheMalteseCollection #WilliamMaltese #TotalMeltdown #erotica #LGBTQ #AGHayes #FindingKate #dance #computer #TheEdgeOfMadness #MissingPersons #doctor #ThePerfectIllusion #MOCOS #EliasPerez #2-LitersShadyFilms
The first, STATIC (2021) — https://ksmediagroupinc.com/the-stati... — featured me as the lead character, Will Gardner, a curmudgeonous veteran confronting his first battle he can’t win: Alzheimer’s Disease. STATIC (2021), originally written as a screenplay novel by Savant author Richard Rose, was released in 2021 — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15420946.
The second, THE MALTESE COLLECTION — https://ksmediagroupinc.com/maltese-c... — included me as an interviewee, having known the incomparable William Maltese for years and having written TOTAL MELTDOWN (Borgo/Wildside 2006) together — https://www.amazon.com/dp/1434403556. The film bio-documentary is a reprise to William Maltese’s many inspirations, achievements, and lifelong support of erotica, LGBTQ authors and readers. THE MALTESE COLLECTION is currently in post-production and scheduled for airing in 2022/23.
The third, FINDING KATE — https://ksmediagroupinc.com/finding-kate — will include me as myself movie star playing Will Gardner in the filming of STATIC, and again as the dance partner of Setsuko Tsuchiya in an “Honor Dance.” Written by multi-award-winning Savant author, A. G. Hayes as a Savant book of the same name — https://www.amazon.com/dp/0997247215, Kate Keenan develops a computer program that can instantly turn a screenplay into a movie turning the industry upside down. It’s quickly realized that, in the wrong hands, her program could become a threat to national security and no surprise when Kate abruptly goes missing. FINDING KATE is currently in production and scheduled for airing as a six-episode series in 2022/23.
While working on the sequel to my Amazon-genre-bestseller, THE EDGE OF MADNESS by Raymond Gaynor — https://www.amazon.com/dp/0999693859 — I’ve completed my filming as Dr. Stevenson in the Kurt Ken Kaminaka Production of THE PERFECT ILLUSION — https://www.totck.com/the-perfect-ill... — currently in post-production with an anticipated release in 2023, and I’m actively filming as Dr. Grant in the 2-Liter’s Shady Films Production of MOCOS, a world infectious disease epidemic film, currently in early production.
Follow both my acting and authoring exploits at https://janik.yolasite.com with Behind-the-Scenes photos and photo/video vignettes.
The Many Faces of Actor Daniel S. Janik: https://youtu.be/HZwaVvSaHlY
#DanielSJanik #RaymondGaynor #SetsukoTsuchiya #Savant #KSMediaGroupInc #KSimmonsProductions #Hawaiiwood #Static #movie #film #Alzheimer #TheMalteseCollection #WilliamMaltese #TotalMeltdown #erotica #LGBTQ #AGHayes #FindingKate #dance #computer #TheEdgeOfMadness #MissingPersons #doctor #ThePerfectIllusion #MOCOS #EliasPerez #2-LitersShadyFilms
July 27, 2022
THE AMAZON GREEN PARROTS OF HAWAII
THINK Hawaii and what immediately comes to most people’s minds are warm sun, beaches, surfing, tropical drinks, but Amazonian Green Parrots? Rats? Mongooses? Geckoes? Brush-tailed rock-wallabies? Mangoes? Eh? And lets not forget mosquitoes! But, Amazonian Green Parrots???
Less than a decade ago, I noticed a pair of Amazonian Green Parrots fly by my lanai window. Several years later, on a walk I noticed a buch of them feasting on mangoes in a neighborhood mango tree. Today I watched numerous flocks of them screeching happily as they flew by. Don’t get me wrong: I’ve come to love the beautifully iridescent green critters with their now familiar squawk.
Rats? Mongooses? Ah, well, it all started with the Norwegian Rats abandoning visiting ships to Hawaii. Can’t blame them. Who wouldn’t want to live in paradise? They’ve adapted so well, what I though was a lone dog walking swiftly along the Ala Wai canal turned out to be the biggest rat I’ve ever imagined. And it looked quite contented before flashing down a street side water drain. As for those cute mongooses (mongeese?) that live next to many public trash cans, well, they were purposefully introduced to control the rats, which sadly, are nocturnal while the mongooses prefer daylight.
Geckoes are my friends. When I lived in a ground floor apartment, they would come into the apartment at night and eat any mosquitoes hanging about for a night snack. Mostly innocuous, I recall once my printer going wonky, only to discover a gecko nest and one egg inside. For a gecko lover it was a sweet gestation, with the addition of another “house gecko” to keep my apartment mosquito-free. The only time I had any contention with a gecko was in the late night when a guest was going to the bathroom and shined a light at something on the ceiling. The gecko squeaked in surprise, fell onto the table next to my guest and both screamed, running the opposite way.
G’day, Mate. And yes there’s a colony of brush-tailed rock-wallabies here, all descended from a breeding pair that escaped from a zoo here more than a hundred years ago. Although not indigenous — what is, really? — they are protected by law and generally mind their own business, which apparently is multiplying.
Okay, so mangoes aren’t the only non-indigenous fruit that are conjured by the word “Hawaii” these days. Add bananas (my favorite being “apple bananas” and “ice cream bananas”), papayas, and passion fruit (lilikoi), guava and Ohi’a ‘ai (Hawaii Mountain Apples) that grow wild throughout Hawaii’s forests and along forest hiking trails everywhere, and you begin to realize that pretty much everything Hawaiian is introduced. Like the image of Hawaii conveyed to potential tourists.
In fact, is there anything, anywhere on this planet that really wasn’t “invasive” at some point in time? In greater fact, aren’t we humans “invasive” species? If I were an alien from outer space, I’d likely be very careful making contact with humans and their planet, given how successful we’ve become as top predators and poor planetary caretakers. ET go home! Amazon Green Parrots stay! At least, for now! Oh, and what am I doing right now? Writing the sequel to THE EDGE OF MADNESS by Raymond Gaynor tentatively entited “Prophecy,” and practicing for a dance scene in the upcoming K. Simmons Production of FINDING KATE.
The Edge of Madness
#RaymondGaynor #DanielSJanik #parrot #hawaii #gecko #rat #mongoose #wallaby #mango #banana #papaya #MountainApple #PassionFruit #guava #ET #alien #invasive #species #paradise #tropical #tourist #visit #EdgeOfMadness #FindingKate #movie #film #dance #book #ebook #audiobook
Less than a decade ago, I noticed a pair of Amazonian Green Parrots fly by my lanai window. Several years later, on a walk I noticed a buch of them feasting on mangoes in a neighborhood mango tree. Today I watched numerous flocks of them screeching happily as they flew by. Don’t get me wrong: I’ve come to love the beautifully iridescent green critters with their now familiar squawk.
Rats? Mongooses? Ah, well, it all started with the Norwegian Rats abandoning visiting ships to Hawaii. Can’t blame them. Who wouldn’t want to live in paradise? They’ve adapted so well, what I though was a lone dog walking swiftly along the Ala Wai canal turned out to be the biggest rat I’ve ever imagined. And it looked quite contented before flashing down a street side water drain. As for those cute mongooses (mongeese?) that live next to many public trash cans, well, they were purposefully introduced to control the rats, which sadly, are nocturnal while the mongooses prefer daylight.
Geckoes are my friends. When I lived in a ground floor apartment, they would come into the apartment at night and eat any mosquitoes hanging about for a night snack. Mostly innocuous, I recall once my printer going wonky, only to discover a gecko nest and one egg inside. For a gecko lover it was a sweet gestation, with the addition of another “house gecko” to keep my apartment mosquito-free. The only time I had any contention with a gecko was in the late night when a guest was going to the bathroom and shined a light at something on the ceiling. The gecko squeaked in surprise, fell onto the table next to my guest and both screamed, running the opposite way.
G’day, Mate. And yes there’s a colony of brush-tailed rock-wallabies here, all descended from a breeding pair that escaped from a zoo here more than a hundred years ago. Although not indigenous — what is, really? — they are protected by law and generally mind their own business, which apparently is multiplying.
Okay, so mangoes aren’t the only non-indigenous fruit that are conjured by the word “Hawaii” these days. Add bananas (my favorite being “apple bananas” and “ice cream bananas”), papayas, and passion fruit (lilikoi), guava and Ohi’a ‘ai (Hawaii Mountain Apples) that grow wild throughout Hawaii’s forests and along forest hiking trails everywhere, and you begin to realize that pretty much everything Hawaiian is introduced. Like the image of Hawaii conveyed to potential tourists.
In fact, is there anything, anywhere on this planet that really wasn’t “invasive” at some point in time? In greater fact, aren’t we humans “invasive” species? If I were an alien from outer space, I’d likely be very careful making contact with humans and their planet, given how successful we’ve become as top predators and poor planetary caretakers. ET go home! Amazon Green Parrots stay! At least, for now! Oh, and what am I doing right now? Writing the sequel to THE EDGE OF MADNESS by Raymond Gaynor tentatively entited “Prophecy,” and practicing for a dance scene in the upcoming K. Simmons Production of FINDING KATE.
The Edge of Madness
#RaymondGaynor #DanielSJanik #parrot #hawaii #gecko #rat #mongoose #wallaby #mango #banana #papaya #MountainApple #PassionFruit #guava #ET #alien #invasive #species #paradise #tropical #tourist #visit #EdgeOfMadness #FindingKate #movie #film #dance #book #ebook #audiobook
