Adam Oster's Blog, page 36

America’s Hangover

One of my coworkers let out a rather discouraged-sounding sigh as she put on her coat to leave work yesterday.  When I asked what was wrong, her response was simply, “I’m going to go vote for Hillary…I guess.”

Looking at the exit polls for yesterday, it would appear that sentiment was held by a lot of voters.  Not just for Hillary, mind you, but for both candidates.

Am I the only one who sees something wrong with this picture?

My coworker had resigned herself to vote, even though she felt incredibly heavy-hearted about it.  She didn’t know if it was the right choice.  She really didn’t even sound like she wanted to vote at all.

Several times last night I saw different comments on Facebook from a variety of friends, snidely deriding those who chose to vote third party.  This morning I happened upon an article about how over 11,000 people voted for the dead gorilla, Harambe, followed by a litany of tweets from people about how those 11,000 votes could have “saved America” (the story came from a fake news site…but the tweets…they were real) .

Because, of course, a vote that isn’t for one of the big 2 political factions is a vote for “The Other Guy/Gal”.

That’s bullshit.  What you’re saying is that an election is not the place to make a political statement…You do see the problem there, don’t you?

I overheard someone at the bar last night mention, disappointedly, how they had thought this would be the year where a third party would actually make a difference.

Because, to be fair, it should have.

Looking back at the exit polls:

If a majority of voters, because these exit polls come from folks who actually voted, obviously, didn’t like either of the big party candidates, so much as to state that they don’t even trust them, then why did they vote for them?

My personal favorite: Opinion of Presidential Candidate you Voted for.  32% of respondants had reservations, 25% just didn’t like the other guy, with only 41% of the folks actually voting because they actually liked the person they voted for for the job.  29% of responders stated they found neither candidate honest.  14% said neither are qualified for the job.  And only 4% of the popular vote went to third party candidates.

Those numbers are terrifying, folks.

And an obvious indicator that our system is broken.

Now, I’m not crazy.  I never believed a third party candidate stood a chance in this election.  They just didn’t make enough of an impact.  Heck, Ross Perot, who everyone knew about, still got less than 20% of the popular vote his first time around and not a single electoral vote(he was much less impressive on his second attempt).

But my point is that they should have.  In an election like this where 57% of voters voted for someone they didn’t consider great for the job, we should have had an amazingly strong third party presence.

Our political system is broken.  That understanding is one of the main reasons Trump is now set to be the 45th President of the United States, because voters wanted someone who would shake things up.

But what would shake up the political system more than if someone other than a Democrat or a Republican got to sit behind the big desk?  Suddenly we would have a new party in the mix.  A third wheel to this terrible relationship America’s been in for the past century or so.

This should have been the year where they mattered.  Where people decided to actually vote with their conscience and vote for someone they could believe in.

Do you know why they didn’t?

Fear.

Now, I get it.  There were many of you who were deeply devoted to “your” candidate.  But even more of you were absolutely terrified of what could happen should “the other guy/gal” get elected.  Considering the hate-speak which constantly comes from one of them and the litany of scandals attached to the other, I get it.  This year that should have been the perfect storm for third party candidates to have actually gotten some electoral votes attached to them, couldn’t.

Because of fear.

You know…the use of fear to intimidate or coerce, there’s a word for that.

That shouldn’t be how we elect a President.  That’s how you elect a dictator.

Fat Mogul for President 2016!

So, it turns out that this year marks my eligibility for the office of the President of the Unites States of America.  And although my qualifications might not be as solid as those of an entrenched politician who lived in the White House for eight years, or a long-standing American businessman who has managed to be a household name for longer than I’ve been alive, I do have one thing neither of those two have going for them:

Respect for the American people.

Now, I’m not saying that the two primary candidates for the Oval Office don’t respect people, but I think it’s easy to see, based on the course this current election season has taken, that their respect for the American people as a whole is secondary, at best, to their grab for power.

But I’m not here to muckrake, by any means.  I don’t think that should be the intent of any true political candidate.  The whole “running for President” thing was initially perceived as one of civility.  Why else do you think that the candidate who doesn’t take first prize has, election after election, conceded the victory to the victor?  Because this is a process of civility.  One which has allowed us to be one of the first countries to be capable of switching leaders at least once every decade and still continue to exist as a nation for over two hundred years (well…outside of those few years in the early 1860s, of course).

I know it’s late in the game.  I know Election Day is just around the corner and many voters have already placed their vote for their team…ummm, I mean, for the person they honestly believe will run this country best out of all the other people in the country, not based on capability to raise funds through their name recognition built on activities outside of their bid for President.  But here I am, to give you yet another name for this election season.  Adam Oster.

Now, you may be asking yourself, what sorts of credentials do I have that you should put your vote behind me?  Especially in this political realm where a vote not for one of the two people supported by two of the largest businesses in the nation (The Democrat and Republican Parties…in case you didn’t catch it) means a vote for “the bad one”.

Well, for one thing, because I don’t believe in voting for the lesser of two evils.  If you honestly believe that neither candidate is suitable for office, while the hell would you put your confidence behind them by voting them in?  Don’t let the Big Two bully you into thinking there are no other options.  There are.

And I’m one of them.

I assure you I meet all the job requirements.  I’m thirty-five years old.  I was born in the United States (I’ll even show you my birth certificate).  And I’ve been a resident of this country for all thirty-five of those years, meaning (doing some simply math…) I’ve been a resident for over 420 consecutive months, which makes me quite over-qualified.

As you can see, I’m the perfect person to run this country simply based on my qualifications there.

But, this is my cover letter for the most important job in our country, so perhaps I should sell you a little more on my qualifications to run this country.

You’ll see during your dredging up my background that I have grabbed very few p*ssies in my time as a resident of this great nation.  And although most of my emails have been sent through my private email address, they are primarily links to cat videos I send myself so I can watch them later.  You’ll also see that I almost never reply to all, unless it’s warranted, of course, because…cat videos.

But here’s where I think I really shine as a candidate:

I’m not a part of the system.  I don’t have years and years of background in running a business or sitting in office.  Which means I’ll need the best and brightest minds behind me to help advise me on what courses of action would be best.  I don’t believe this country is run by a single person.  I’m pretty sure that’s why they created The Cabinet of the United States, so that the Presidency is backed by the best and the brightest of the nation, not the activities of one single person.

Those other candidates would have you believe they alone will make this country great again, or that you want to be with her, or even that we’re stronger together…whatever that actually means when the candidate is helping increase the rift this current political season is inspiring to grow deeper.  No, I’m not doing that.  You want to know my slogan.  Here it is:

“Creating Tomorrow with the Best of Today”.

Sure, it hasn’t been test marketed or anything, and I may have just crafted it just now off the top of my head, but that’s the thing.  I’m not going to spend my time focused on marketing.  I’m not even spending my time campaigning.  My opponents have spent the better part of two years to get to this point.  I announced my candidacy today.

And when I get elected, I’m not going to waste anytime with celebrations.  I’m going to spend my time fixing the problems which are plaguing this country today.  And how will I fix them?  By hiring the right person to do that.  I’ve learned from my own personal home renovations that sometimes you just need to hire a plumber.  No, not Joe, a real plumber.  And what our country needs right now is a real plumber.  And a real electrician.  And a real accountant.  And…  You get the point.

This country is not run by one person.  It is a country for the people and by the people.  We, meaning you and me and all those people sitting in cubicles around you) are the people.  Not a single corporation or political party or collective of for-profit groups.  Us.

Which brings me to my point here.

Do you want to know the greatest problem in our country today?  The thing which we need to resolve to Make America Great Again.  The thing we need to remove in order to actually get Together so we can be Stronger?

This damned bipartisan system!

A system which is run by two money-grabbing organizations which has telemarketing practices worse than those folks from India who are trying to sell me a new warranty for my vehicle.  I mean, seriously…I’m on the DNC list!  (I realize that could stand for Democratic National Committee, which is a list I apparently am on, based on the calls, but I was referring to the Do Not Call list, that one where people aren’t supposed to cold call you if you’re on it).

You want a political candidate who can’t be bought?  I’m your guy!  That pittance the President makes yearly…umm…yeah, I see it as a fairly nice pay increase.  I’d even be willing to take a cut based on my minimal experience in political office.

But again I must stress the most important quality I have going for me in this election.

I respect you.  Each and every one of you.  Even the meth-slingers and sexual predators and murderers and Hitlers.  Because, well, I know that there’s a lot going on out there and I really don’t know your life.  No, I don’t support all of what you’re doing.  In fact, I’d really prefer you knock it all off.  But you’re a person too.  And there’s a great possibility that this screwed up system we’ve got has failed you as well.

But what does that respect mean?  It means that I’m not one to simply stand on my principles and ignore the pleas of the populace.  I believe the office of the President belongs to the people, not to the corporations.  So, not only will I ensure the best and brightest will be put in position to ensure our country is placed on the right track, but I will listen to the people.  I will ensure all voices are heard.  And I will work to make this company the democracy we have fought long and hard to make it.

But honestly, a vote for me might not be the best either.  I’m a writer from Wisconsin, who has barely even held a management position.

There are all  these numbers out there showing that people aren’t going out to vote and that’s being equated, more often than not, to laziness on behalf of the voters.  What if we showed them that it’s not due to laziness, that it’s due to a feeling that we no longer own this country.  We’re told we NEED to vote.  We’re told a vote for anyone other than the Republic or the Democrat is thrown away.  But if we show up in record numbers and give our votes to someone else, then our voice MUST be heard.

It’s not that we’re lazy.

It’s that you’ve given us crap and we’re not putting our voice behind that crap.

So, what a vote for me really is, is a vote to say you find this system stupid and broken and in need of replacement.

A vote for me is a vote for change.

In the end, you can vote for Donald Duck for all I care.  But if you want to change the system, you have to make sure your voice is heard.  If you don’t support either of the Big Two candidates, vote for something you do support.  The more votes we get away from those two, the more the system will have to realize they need to change.

Vote for me, vote for Hillary, vote for Trump, vote for Johnson, vote for Duck.  But vote your convictions.  Not the ones you’re being told to support.

Speaking of which:

Tell your friends who you’re supporting.  I’ll be printing hats and t-shirts and lawn signs soon, but for now, share how you’re voting Oster 2016.  Because why wouldn’t you?

 

Why I Write about my Hometown

A friend of mine contacted me not too long ago, after reading one of my books, to say how she was somewhat disappointed in herself because the book she had written was a sort of historical fiction based in a fictional Wisconsin town, while the book of mine she had just read, The Agora Files, was futuristic fiction and had a bit of the action located right in the very real town I live in, Eau Claire, WI.

Had she read Daddy of the Dead, she would have found that this zombie-filled horror about my own coming to terms with fatherhood was based entirely on the very real route from Chicago, IL to Menomonie, WI.  One of my current works in progress is set just a few hours north of here.  My children’s book I’m polishing up at the moment, Chippewa Chao and the Marvelous Macaroon Mission, is also based right here in the good ol’ Chippewa Valley of Wisconsin.

You might say there’s a bit of a trend there.

In my re-read of The Agora Files – Part I as I ramp up to begin writing the third and final book in that series, I couldn’t help but stop and think about the inclusion of my happy little hometown within the pages of my book set in a not-entirely-happy United States.

For those of you who haven’t yet read the book, in it the U.S. has become something of tyrannical beast.  There’s a big war going on between the federal government and a group of plucky rebels who are looking to change things.  Cyrus, the protagonist of the story, finds himself somewhere in the middle.  The story takes him through learning about both sides of this war and, well, mostly determining that neither side seems all that awesome.

But then, approximately halfway through the book, he finds himself in this rather surreal moment as he is welcomed to a giant festival in his honor, right in my good old chosen hometown of Eau Claire, WI.  The moment was created to be a disorienting one, but also one to show how the world might not all be in completely terrible shape.

It was a moment I had designed well before I knew where he was going to be when it happened.  But when I considered all that was going to go into the scene, there really was only one place which made sense.  Eau Claire.

You see, this little city in which I live has a lot going for it.  It’s got a strong agricultural scene, an abundant amount of industrial coverage, and, even more than all that, a great amount of heart.  If there would be one place I’d want to be should the world break down, it would be here.

This is a town that has, on numerous occasions, has come back from near dissolution due to large corporations jumping ship and thereby leaving a large part of the city’s workforce unemployed.

This is a town currently in the midst of a complete revolution in how it thinks and acts in order to go prepare for the modern age, to welcome in the newer generation, to be prepared for all that is to come as the world is changing.

But most importantly, this is a town that defines the phrase “Wisconsin Nice”….yeah…I know those Minnesota folks like to use the phrase, but come here, you’ll learn who is doing it right.

So, when I was looking for a location which would be prepared to welcome this scoundrel with loving/open arms, there really was no better place than right here in good old Eau Claire, WI.

Heck, just back in April, had Trump, Clinton, Sanders and Cruz were all within just miles of each other, right here in Eau Claire, throwing big events, and not a single bit of crazy happened…well, you know, outside of whatever might have come from those behind the podiums…we can’t control that.

So, not only was this the location where I could depict this lovely serene location nestled in the tall green pines, settled on the convergence of the Eau Claire and Chippewa Rivers.  It was also the only place I’ve found within this country where a man who was on top of the most wanted list with an impossibly large bounty on his head could possibly have been openly celebrated and not be in danger.  Not to say that we actively or regularly celebrate federal fugitives, just that in this specific case, we might have.

I’ve often considered the idea of moving to a different city/state for a number of different reasons.  But time and again I look at my plucky hometown and realize that I really couldn’t ask for anything better.

So why do I write about my hometown?  Because I honestly think is pretty darn awesome.  And it’s one of the few places where things feel…almost perfect.

Now the real question is…why am I even talking about this right now…That I can’t answer.  I was just feeling a bit of love for my hometown as I re-read the pages I wrote several years ago and thinking about how well they hold true even today.

Now if only we could get us a Krispy Kreme and a Waffle House around here, I could take away that almost in front of the word perfect…

Fat Mogul vs. Creative Anxiety

About a week ago I was asked by a mother to talk to her daughter who was in the midst of determining her career path.  I didn’t get much information outside of there being a question of whether or not she should go for a creative writing program.

When I actually talked to the daughter, I, well, first of all, I found that this young lady had a much better head on her shoulders regarding her career prospects than I have even today.  But secondly, I ended up getting into a conversation regarding writer’s block.  She had set a goal for herself her freshman year to finish a book by the time she graduated.  With her senior year already in full swing, she was beginning to believe this would never occur, simply because she just kept getting blocked on how to move forward.

I offered my standard advice of just writing until something that makes sense comes out (a very simplified version of my “just do it already” speech) and, although I feared I may have scared her off of writing altogether, she came back to me the next day with a note saying my advice worked.

Because of course it did

Book Review: Bartholomew Roberts’ Justice by Jeremy McLean

Disclaimer:  I got this book for free in exchange for an honest review.

Bartholomew Roberts’ Justice by Jeremy McLean is the second novella in McLean’s Pirate Priest book series.  And it starts off just a few months after we last saw the Dread Pirate Roberts (wait…wrong story) in the first book.

Where the first book seemed to justify the need for pirates, in that Roberts found there was good to be done as a scallywag, book two seems more focused on Roberts actually dealing with the fact that he is now plundering for the sake of plundering.

In actuality, there appears to be little redemption for the pirates in this book.  No longer are they focused on freeing slaves.  Instead, they’re focused on power and money and…well, you know..being pirates.

Roberts seems to be in a rather weird place here.  At one point, he does focus on doing the right thing, being concerned about the death of innocents and such.  At other points, he’s willing to attack and destroy other ships purely for what they’ve got in their cargo hold…those folks apparently not being innocents simply because they’ve got stuff Roberts wants.

I have to admit this piece of the puzzle caused me pause, but the story itself was well told.  We see Roberts battling somewhat with this designation of pirating (although not nearly enough in my opinion), but also battling with those who would aim to do further wrong in his eyes.  And we also see him focused on treating everyone the way they should be treated, even if his reasons for determining how their karmic place seems questionable at times.

Ultimately, this is another great swashbuckling tale where we see how life on a pirate ship might not be all rosy between the scum and villainy who are generally on those ships.  And Roberts, the man of God, is in the middle of it all, trying to keep control.

By the end of the book, we do see Roberts begin to turn back to his roots, but the question remains…can you be a pirate and a man of God?

Definitely worth the read, especially if you enjoy any of McLean’s other books.  And Roberts is a rather endearing character.  The lapses in his judgment could definitely be seen as more character flaws than flaws in the writing, so don’t think I’m taking away from the skill of McLean here.

In other words, give it a read already.  It’s a load of fun!

Book Review: Bartholomew Roberts’ Faith by Jeremy McLean

Got to get the standard disclaimer out of the way first: “I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.”

If you’ve been keeping up, you’ve probably seen a review or two of mine come about with the name of Jeremy McLean attached before. That’s because he writes pirate books and then he asks me to read them, and I just so happen to like pirate books.

Bartholomew Roberts’ Faith is one of two novellas Mr. McLean sent me recently (the second will be appearing on here shortly as I’m over the halfway point on it as we speak).  Now, his other books, Blackbeard’s Revenge and Blackbeard’s Freedom, follow the pirate who would become known as Blackbeard.  These two novellas containing Bartholomew Roberts’ name, follow around the exploits of a man who will become the pirate known as Black Bart…don’t worry, I keep getting them confused as well.

Confusion aside, Faith (as I’m going to shorten the title from here on out), is a solidly told, well-built story about a man coming to terms with the idea of becoming a pirate.  Roberts is a religious man, who decides to spend his life at sea.  He quickly realizes that good and evil aren’t quite as black and white as he had initially believed…so, through a series of amazing events, he finds himself aboard a pirate ship, set off to free slaves.

This book is a ton of fun.  It’s got some swashbuckling (although I’d always ask for more, even if it were a thousand page book of nothing but swashbuckling….okay, no, nevermind, don’t do that, please).  It’s got drinking!  It’s got pirates!  And it’s got a morality tale which not only manages to surprise, but also happens to be quite sweet.

In fact, the morality tale of this story is really what it’s all about, and it’s quite spectacular.  And since this book is so short, you can read it in one sitting…unless you’re like me and have three children who completely exhaust you before you even get to pick up the kindle, then it’s 2 or 3 sittings.

I’d highly suggest this title.

Buy it now!

Book Review: The Gospel According to St. Rage by Karen Eisenbrey

Loser girl turned punk rock superhero…Those six words should sell you on The Gospel According to St. Rage alone.  But you know what, that still doesn’t do this book any sort of justice.

Barbara has spent the majority of her life invisible.  Whether she’s been literally invisible or not is not entirely clear.  Neither is it all that important, as whichever is true, no one at her school seems to even know she exists…until one chance meeting leaves her with a brand new hat and a new lease on life…and sudden visibility. And superpowers?

Well, to be honest, I’m not sure where the superpowers come from either, but again it doesn’t matter, because Barbara is no longer the type of person to concern herself with where good fortune comes from, she’s now one to take that fortune by the horns and ride it into the sunset.

Suddenly she’s the leader of a rockin’ new girls band and making waves in the school.

There is so much I want to say about the actual content of this book, so much I want to tell you about what happens, but I honestly believe you need to experience it for yourself.  You see, this isn’t really a superhero book.  Sure, Barbara may have the powers to cause flocks of birds to release their…um…payload onto her enemies with the simple flick of a finger, but she’s not out to save the world, she’s just out to finally live the life she’s been hiding from.

And that she does in an incredibly amazing way for this previously quiet choir girl.

This is a story about high school.  About finding yourself.  About doing what you need to be doing…about destiny?

Eisenbrey brought me back to my own high school days with this book that feels like a punk rock song itself.  To those days of trying to make friends, of trying to define who I am.  And she does so with rock star class.

This ain’t your momma’s young adult novel.  And it ain’t your daddy’s comic book.  It’s a real story, based in reality, with a little bit of fun superpowers thrown in…and I have to say, the powers themselves are some of the most creative I’ve seen.

Give this book a read…seriously.

Buy it now!

Project Updates September 2016

Hey folks, thought it was just about time to let you all in on what’s going on, now that I’ve started getting the regular writing thing going on once again.

And the answer is…a whole heckuva lot.

First, I’ve completed the first book in my chapter book series, Chippewa Chao and the Marvelous Macaroon Mission.  I’m pretty excited about it.  Going to get it in the hands of my kids this weekend for a first read thru to see how my built in test audience responds and start making some moves based on that.  I honestly think this series is going to be a ton of fun once it gets going.  Of course…it’s still got a long way to go before it gets onto store shelves, but the first part of the process is complete and I’m really happy with how it worked out.  I’m actually quite excited to get working on book 2 of the series…but one thing at a time.  Well, one thing at a time for this particular series because:

Are you one of those folks who have been eagerly awaiting to learn how things turn out for Cyrus, Eve, and The Geek?  Well, I’ve begun the process for Agora Files Part 3.  I’m still admittedly quite early on in the process.  Doing some basic plotting out.  Re-reading the first two books in the series to make sure I capture all of those unanswered questions, as well as to make sure I remember all those finer details that will play out in the end.  And, of course, finding some really cool things to include in the finale of my favorite high-octane young adult series.  Sure, it’s still going to be a bit before this book’s completed…but it’s a high priority for me and I’m really quite eager to see how the end finally plays out…well, you know, I mean, I know how it plays out, but to see how it all actually comes together once its written.

But that’s not even close to all, folks, because I just so happen to have accidentally started work on a completely new book (which may end up becoming a series, depending on how I can piece everything together).  What do I mean by accidentally?  Well, you see, I was in need of doing a bit of a  brain exercise yesterday and decided to try and come up with the most complex and ridiculous plot possible…and what I came up with, although still quite rough around the edges, was too much fun to let go.  The little brain exercise ended up becoming a full synopsis, a minor amount of character development, and even the writing of a test chapter to see if I could get the vibe right.  This one falls below the previous two items as far as priority goes, but I have to admit that the concept has been too intriguing for me to let go.  Too cryptic?  Well, what if I tell you that it’s Wayward Pines, LOST, Good Omens, and Portal, tossed in with aliens and video games and a whole bunch of other random things to create the most insane adventure/mystery novel ever…well, you know, at least in this very early conceptual stage.  But honestly, I think this could be something incredibly special, and I really can’t wait until I can make it my full priority.  For now, it’ll be the thing I go to when I need a bit of a break from my other projects.

Of course, there are still several other things in the pipeline as well.  I’ve got a short story in another upcoming anthology from Cake and Quill.  I’ve got a collaboration that’s still in the very early conceptual stages with the always amazing Ken Mooney, and I’ve still got some editing to do on the already-completed Right to Liberty novel, starring the man who will soon be everyone’s favorite cranky old revolution leader.

In other words, I’ve just gotten myself back into the game, and I’ve already got a whole host of things in the pipeline.  Unfortunately, I’m not sure any of these will make it out before the end of 2016 (which will mean I won’t have published anything this year), but if I can keep up the momentum I’ve already built, we should see a thunderstorm of things coming out in 2017.

So…you know…you’ve got that to look forward to

Fat Mogul vs. Pumpkin Spice

You know what my kids had for breakfast this morning?

Pumpkin Spice Life cereal…

That’s right, folks, the season is upon us.  The season of death.  The season of terror, the season of …fall *grumble*.

Look, I know, it hasn’t been that long since I talked about how much I love summer and I’m already here to talk about how much I despise the autumn.  But it’s true.  I hate it.

Things like pumpkin spicing up every single thing under the (not going to be around for much longer) sun doesn’t make things any better.  Just makes the whole season feel…terrible.

Now, sure, I love me some Halloween.  I’ll admit that I’ve driven down country roads just to look at the fall colors.  And I’ve been aching to get out to an apple orchard and down a few pints of apple cider.  (Speaking of which…why can’t we have more Apple Spice stuff instead of all this Pumpkin Spice crap?)  I even love me some pumpkin pie and Thanksgiving and…okay, you get it, there’s a ton of things I really dig about fall.

But I really really really hate fall.  Maybe it’s that my seasonal allergies kick up right about now and don’t allow me to feel like a real person again until the snow’s on the ground and I’m stuck inside for nine months.  Maybe it’s that I really really hate how everything has pumpkin spice in it nowadays, without using any pumpkins, of course (which, to be fair…I’m not sure I actually dislike pumpkin spice…just the concept of pumpkin spice keeps me away from it all).

Or maybe…just maybe…it’s because I see fall for what it really is.  The death of summer.

Honestly, fall, in general, really is just all about death.  Ignore that the Day of the Dead and All Hallows Eve occur during the season.  Just look at the leaves on the trees, the migrating birds, and the fact that we harvest all our crops up and leave our fields dormant for the following months.  Fall is just preparing for winter.  And I really don’t like winter.

Fall is, of course, some of the best time to play outside.  It’s not like gross wet spring where you still don’t have all the grass on the ground and everything’s muddy so you just feel dirty…not to mention you still haven’t had all of the gross stuff that got stuck in the snow get washed away yet.  Nope, fall even means there are a ton of leaves covering the ground to give you a little cushion when you get tackled to the ground after deciding to throw the pigskin around.

It means sweatshirts and long pants.  No longer needing to escape to the air conditioning to feel human again.

But it means summer is over…and that makes me very, very sad.

So…although my lovely city’s International Fall Festival doesn’t seem to know it (seeing as it’s happening this Saturday), I’ve still got a week of summer left.

Now I just need to figure out how to use it…

Have fun out there!

Fat Mogul vs. Stranger Things

Bandwagons are awesome.  That’s why I’m jumping on this one really hard.  And late…

Honestly, if you don’t know it already, you’re obviously out of the loop, but I’m here to say that Stranger Things is one of the most brilliant pieces of scripted television entertainment I’ve seen in a very long time…since I’m re-watching Lost right now, I’m really struggling to fight the urge to compare it to that terribly-concluded saga of awesomeness.

But honestly, I’m not really here to talk about how awesome it is.  Well, not directly anyway.  If you haven’t heard that it’s awesome already, well, it is, but being told that won’t sell you on the series.  What will sell you is turning that thing on and giving it a good watch.  I was hooked from the first episode.  My wife took until the second.

What I am here to talk about is WHY that show, or other shows, like Lost, are so simply amazing.  I mean, Stranger Things, from the basic description, isn’t doing anything new.  It proclaims itself to be an homage to action/adventure/horror films of the 80s.  And it’s based in the 80s.  Really, it should jus be a rather by the books B-movie.

In fact, for reference, Stephen King, after watching the series, tweeted that it felt like a Stephen King novel.  Which I wholeheartedly agree with.  And if you’ve ever seen a film based on a Stephen King novel…well, you know what to expect.

So why is it so amazing?  Why would I feel the need to come on here and talk about it with you from more than a perspective of just how much fun and engaging of a story it is?

The answer is simple…because of the writing.

There are so many things about Stranger Things that work really really well.  The central cast are almost all spectacular.  Millie Bobby Brown alone makes the show worth watching, as her performance of Eleven is quite simply some of the best wordless acting I’ve ever seen.  The sets are great, the costumes really put you in the middle of the 80s, the music is spot-on, and even the monster, who is a little on the goofy-looking side, never really pulls you away from the story because of it.

Nearly everything about this series is spotless in its implementation.  But I wholeheartedly believe the series would have been able to skimp on all of these things and still achieved such an amazing response simply based on the writing.

Sure, as a writer, I may be a little biased.  But from the first moment, they’re building toward the ending.  The dialogue between the characters, and the interaction of how each piece fits into the larger puzzle, the specifics on how everything plays out in just the right way to add suspense while also continue to reveal the final story, it’s all just brilliant.

So, while everyone is focusing on those cute little kids being super awesome, or the spectacular turn Wynona Rider takes as crazed mom, or how much it just feels like something you would’ve watched in the 80s, I want to say, none of that would have mattered if it weren’t for the absolutely pitch perfect script which made the whole thing come together.  Even more than that, it made the whole thing worthwhile.  It made you actually care about what was going on in the Upside Down, it made you continue to question what was going on afterward, and it made you want to know more.

When an episode ends and you NEED to watch the next one, even if it’s well after your bedtime, that’s a sign that the writers have done their job exceptionally well.  And if you’ve watched this show, you know that’s the case.

Have fun out there!