Bryce Moore's Blog, page 281

Downton Abbey 2.4 Review

First off, as usual, this post has a bunch of spoilers in it. If you haven't had the chance to see the latest episode of Downton (episode 4), then you'd darn well better not read this post. Got it?



Because there are some fairly major spoilers this week.



So I have to give the show some props right off the bat for not being predictable. I'm relieved that my guesses last week ended up being wrong--because really, who wants to watch a show where you know what happens each week before you watch? You might as well just turn the whole thing off.



Matthew getting paralyzed? Didn't see that one coming. William dying? Wasn't too hard to guess that was in the poor kid's future as soon as he became Matthew's helper in the field. Still, there's a difference between not being predictable and actually being good. For me, part of how I'll be able to tell which this is will be determined by what happens later. I would love for Downton to stick to its guns and keep Matthew paralyzed permanently. Not because I'm sadistic like that--I'm very sad for the guy and his future--but more because I'll be sad if they give him a miraculous recovery two or three episodes down the road.



This show is good because it's true to life. (Or at least it does an excellent job seeming like it is.) If suddenly you've got people prancing in and out of wheelchairs and paralysis, the soap opera elements leap to the forefront, and it cheapens the rest of the show. (That's one reason why I really don't care for the maid-with-a-child-out-of-wedlock subplot. I get that that sort of thing happened, and it's appalling the way the major is treating her, but it's not interesting enough to make me care for the maid yet. Am I just a cold, heartless jerk?)



More props for expanding Thomas and O'Brien into characters who actually aren't always evil. (Well, O'Brien at least--and yay for giving Thomas a bit more in the way of motivation.) I love me some villains, but I also really would rather the villains be realistic. Few people (in my experience) are just 100% awful people, all the time.



Daisy and William--This was an interesting plot line, but at the end of all of it, I have to wonder just where it was going. I mean, if the big payoff is just that Daisy was really conflicted for all of two days about having to pretend to marry William, and now that's it . . . what was the point? To make us all feel really bad for William? I'm hoping this somehow ties back into some more consequences for Daisy. In a soap opera, by next episode, she'd be back to her getting-bossed-around-by-the-cook-and-being-clueless old self again. (Maybe that's what a good drama needs to set it apart from a bad soap opera: real consequences that make sense and are realistic.)



Mary and her big secret--the plot thickens. Hooray for her fiancee for being a stand up guy and protecting her from the story, but you can't help but feel like washing your hands every time that fiancee is in the show. He's oily, and no good will come of it. I'm still convinced Matthew and Mary end up together, but I'm surprised how devoted he is to Lavinia. (And I'm surprised at myself for caring as much as I do--another sign of a great show.)



In any case, excellent developments, and I'm looking forward (as always) to next week. How about you? What did you think?



PS--Sybil and the chauffeur? Blech.The girl deserves better. MUCH better.

Elbow Update

I had no idea I'd ever be writing a blog post about how my elbow is doing. But since it's affected pretty much my whole life for the past 10 days, here I am.



I'm happy to report that things are looking brighter. I have the splint and sling off now, and while it hurts to do some things, I'm also typing this with both hands, and I have no plans on putting the splint back on--at least not until bed. We'll see how that goes.



I was supposed to start physical therapy today, but Mother Nature once again decided to bless me with a snow day, so that's been pushed off to next week. In the meantime, I'm back to writing, thank goodness. This injury pushed me back in my timetable by at least a week, likely more. It's not just the "not being able to type fast." I find it more difficult to think and get in the "writing zone" when I'm in pain and discomfort. Go figure. (It doesn't help that I fell on my back when I injured my elbow, and that's still aching, too. Yuck. And did I mention I grind my teeth at night, and this injury has really amp'ed that habit to 11, so my teeth have decided to stop lining up straight in the day. Yeah. No fun.)



But enough about whining and complaining. Snow day! I think this is my fourth one this year already. So let's see . . . snow and ice meant a broken elbow this year, but it also meant four extra days off from work. I try to be a glass is half full sort of a guy. :-)



But I think I'd still rather my elbow wasn't broken and I had to work those four days. (Then again, I watched My Left Foot while I was in the depths of depression--that did a lot to cheer me up. Things could be a ton worse.)



See you all on Monday!

Burn Notice Review

I've taken a break from Mad Men. The show just got too depressing for me. No one ever did anything redemptive, and it was just too doom and gloomy for me. So Netflix swore up and down that I would like Burn Notice, and I thought Denisa and I might give it a shot.



It's not a bad show. In fact, it's quite fun. Fun in a heavy-on-the-small-plot and light on the large plot sort of way, but fun nonetheless. The basic premise is that a contract spy gets thrown out of the spy world when someone frames him for some crimes against the government. The overarching plot is him trying to figure out who framed him and get even. The smaller, episode by episode plots are focused on him trying to earn some money to fund that search--mainly by helping people in need of help, ala the A-Team. (Then again, in later episodes, he keeps turning down the money, which makes one wonder how in the world he pays rent.)



The show is light fun. If you're looking for some adventure, some spy action, and some I-wonder-if-that's-really-true explanations for how spies do things in the real world (hint: it's all about cell phones), then you could do much worse than this show. Of course, Netflix thought I'd give it 5/5 stars, and I think it's more of a 4/5, but that's quibbling. I prefer my TV shows to have more big plot elements, but then again, I keep coming back to Burn Notice night after night. It's a great release show--especially when you're looking to escape a broken elbow. Plus (compared to many of the other offerings on TV these days), it's surprisingly light on sex and violence. (Swimsuits, yes. Simulated sex, no. Explosions, yes. Blood, no--that sort of thing.)



Denisa and I are now a third of the way into season 2. Gotta love that Netflix streaming.



Is this a show I should have known about a long time ago? Have I been under a rock? Any other fans out there--please share!

Mitt Romney, Tithing, and Mormons

Now that Mitt's released his taxes for the past few years, I've seen a rash of articles popping up focused on how much he's paid to the Mormon Church in tithing. Which of course is something everybody should have seen coming from miles away. (Indeed, the story for me would have been if he *didn't* pay his tithing, which--ironically--would no doubt have caused even more problems for him, politically. I can just see Newt declaiming someone who makes a commitment to pay 10%, and then not paying it.)



Anyway.



I wanted to take a moment to explain a bit about tithing and how it works for Mormons, just in case any of you out there are curious. I think it's a concept for most people, but then again, I never ceased to be surprised by the things I assume people know, only to find out my assumption was wrong.



Mormons pay 10% of their earnings to their local congregation. There's no strict definition of what this "earnings" consists of. In fact, church leaders are discouraged from putting a strict definition out there. It's up to the individual to figure out what that means. Is that 10% of what you make before taxes? After taxes? On gifts? Trust me--speaking as a "full tithe payer," there are all sorts of ways you can get confused by something as easy as 10%.



That said, there is no one who demands to see your tax returns or paycheck stubs to prove you're making the grade. Once a year, you sit down with your Bishop (the volunteer, unpaid leader of your local congregation), and he asks if you're a full tithe payer. You say yes or no. End of story. (Having never said "no," I really don't know what happens if you do. Attendance in Mormon temples (buildings reserved for special ordinances--not weekly meetings) requires a person to be a full tithe payer. So I'm thinking your Bishop would likely have a chat with you about tithing and why God asks it of us. Then again, that discussion probably varies from Bishop to Bishop. But I digress.)



Could you lie and tell your Bishop that you paid all your tithing, and really only have paid like 5%? Yeah. But that kind of misses the point.



I pay tithing because I believe it's a commandment. I pay it because I believe it brings blessings. Not in an "I give God 10% and He makes me rich" sort of way, but in a bunch of intangibles. I paid tithing when I was a starving newlywed college student. I pay it now.



Of course, I think this whole 10% thing is probably one of the reasons non-Mormons view the religion as cult-ish. You have to pay money to be able to be saved, that sort of thing. But people who make that assumption are missing an important side to tithing: what's done with the money. If church leaders were driving around in Bentleys and living in luxury apartments in Vegas or New York, I'd be just as concerned as the next guy. But church leaders are--for the most part--volunteer. Mormon meeting houses are utilitarian. Clean and efficient, but hardly gaudy. The church carries out its affairs in the same manner it encourages its members: to live prudently and be wise managers of money.



Why would God ask people to pay 10% of their money to a church? What does God need it for? God doesn't need it. The church certainly can use it to keep buildings operating and such, but in the end, I think this is a commandment more for the benefit of the individual than the church as a whole.



Many of my early budgeting lessons came directly from paying tithing. I had to keep track of how much I was making. I had to watch my money and pay attention to it. Step one of not going into massive debt is having a firm grasp on how much money you make. I pay my tithing first thing each month (not a requirement of members--just how I personally do it). If I'm going to be good at paying it, I automatically need to have a budget. I need to be planning out how I'll spend my money. That's a big plus.



Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism, had the following to say about religion and sacrifice:

"A religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things never has power sufficient to produce the faith necessary unto life and salvation; for, from the first existence of man, the faith necessary unto the enjoyment of life and salvation never could be obtained without the sacrifice of all earthly things. It was through this sacrifice, and this only, that God has ordained that men should enjoy eternal life"

I agree with this sentiment. I feel like religion today is becoming for many more and more a personal preference, find what you already agree with sort of a thing. Religion is asking less and less of individuals, when I feel like it should be expecting more. If a religion doesn't ask you--expect you--to live a better life, to be kinder to others, to become a better person through both outward and inward actions, then what's the point? But again, I'm trying to avoid having this post become a diatribe on modern religion, and keep it to the facts at hand. Sorry.



In the end, I get how tithing could be an issue for some in a political season. I mean, if I found out a candidate was donating a million dollars to the Chuckles the Clown foundation, or spending two hundred thousand on chocolate pudding baths each month, then I'd have concerns about that. But to criticize a candidate (even in a backhanded, "can you believe he actually pays this much to a church" sort of way) for being a faithful member of a religion doesn't make sense to me.



I'd like a leader who believes in principles and isn't afraid to be financially committed to those principles. I'm not saying I'm going to vote Romney this year. I would admire anyone who lived his or her religion to its fullest, whatever that religion might be. In Romney's case, tithing is an excellent barometer of his commitment to his principles.



As far as I'm concerned, that should be the end of the political story.



Any questions from anyone out there? Keep 'em civil, but here's one Mormon ready and willing to have an open discussion on the issue. (You might also want to check out the transcript to a talk I gave in church a while ago on the subject of tithing.) Anyway--speak up!

Christmas Toy Reflection Reviews

Now that it's been a month since Christmas, I thought I'd take a look back on some of the toys we got and give them two ratings from 1-10. The first for anticipation levels leading up to the Big Day, the second for actual fun and value. Because hey--we all know that some toys soar and some crash. Maybe our experience can help you find some great toys. Here we go:



Dominoes:

Anticipation: 0--I got these as a surprise for the fam. The kids hadn't expressed any interest in having some, but I got them anyway.

Actual fun: 7--We've played with them as a family at least four times since Christmas, and everybody has a great time. We've stuck to Mexican Train so far, and the rules are simple enough that TRC can play on his own and beat me and Denisa as often as we beat him. Great purchase. Cheap, and lots of fun. Definitely worth it.



LEGO Master Builder Academy:

Anticipation: 5--TRC really wanted more Legos. I looked around for a while and ended up getting a family subscription to the Master Builder Academy, which sends us a pack in the mail once a month, and supposedly teaches all sorts of tips and tricks to become a master builder.

Actual fun: 8--Again, TRC loves it. Getting stuff in the mail as a kid is never a bad thing, and he's really taken the lessons to heart. I've seen his constructions improve. It's a fun kit, and I've enjoyed getting them myself. Hey--you can never have too many Legos.



Rocksmith:

Anticipation: 10--I had huge hopes for this. I've blogged about that already.

Actual fun: 10--Until I broke my elbow, I'd played this every day I could, usually for at least an hour a day. One of the biggest bummers I have about my broken elbow is the fact that I can't play this game for now. It's that good.



The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

Anticipation: 8--New Zelda, with cool sword 1:1 motion accuracy? Sign me up!

Actual fun: 6--A bit of a let down--especially at first. It took too long to get into the game. But now that I'm into it, it's going much better. It's a great game for me to be able to play while TRC watches, and I expect the actual fun rating to end up around a 7 or 8, which isn't too bad, all things considered.



7 Wonders Game:

Anticipation: 7--I'd heard really good things about this game, and I thought long and hard before I chose it as the game to buy this year for Christmas. That's a lot riding on one game.

Actual Fun: 0--Big disappointment. Not because the game is bad. I haven't had a chance to play it. I broke open the rules, got ready to play with Denisa, and found out that it's designed with three or more players in mind. It's got a 2 person variant, but it's supposedly too confusing if you haven't played with 3 or more already. That ain't gonna fly with Denisa. So this one will have to wait for a few years until TRC can play, too. Big bummer.



Apple TV:

Anticipation: 7--I wanted this to fill a few holes in my AV library--primarily as a way to get content from a computer/iPad to my TV screen.

Actual Fun--5--Not quite what I wanted, but it scratches most of the itches I wanted it to. I've used it to watch TV through my iPad onto my big screen, and I've streamed music with it. Mainly disappointing from an "it ought to be capable of more" standpoint.



Nerf N-Strike Maverick


Anticipation: 9--TRC really wanted a new Nerf. He loves these things

Actual Fun--2--It broke not too long after he got it. He still uses it a bit, but it was, on the whole, a let down I think.



Those are some of the highlights. Other items that went over well were the Yoga DVDs I got Denisa--she's used them almost every day, which I count as a roaring success. The Kitchenaid cover? Not so much. She just uses the Kitchenaid too much for it to make any sense covering it. I should have seen that one coming. Whoops. Still, it was all told a fairly successful Christmas, mainly due to avoiding buying the garbage they advertise on TV and going for quality, well-reviewed products, instead. For that reason, it's been really useful to not have TV for TRC and DC to see ads for the crummy products. Much easier to get them excited for things that are actually worth getting excited for. Ya know?



How about you? Any particular toys/items that were very successful or disappointing? Do share. I have two kid birthdays coming up, after all. Always looking for ideas . . .

Downton Abbey Update

Not sure how long this typing will last today. My elbow's been acting up, as it's the first day I've been back at work since the accident. Still, I wanted to jot down my current Downton impressions after last night's episode.



First off, Denisa and I continue to really enjoy the show. The characters are all very well done--written and acted. Though I have to say that right now, I miss the more straightforward plots of season one. Everything's just a tad too soap opera-esque for me. The biggest strength of the show remains the fascinating characters and the way their lives are affected by a fascinating period of history. I love seeing how characters react to different things--And how different those reactions are when compared to the norms today. Some special notes: (WARNING--SPOILERS!)




Thomas is a weasel, and so is O'Brian, but the show needs them desperately. I want to see more of them, just so there can be more conflict.
The new maid's dismissal for fooling around with the soldier was predictable and took too long to get to this point. I'm much more interested in seeing what happens now.
Thank goodness that busybody Mrs. Crawley is off to France. She seriously bugged me, in a someone-get-that-woman-to-shut-up sort of a way. On the other hand, she might die now, and I didn't really dislike her *that* much.
Mr. Bates and Anna are the pinatas of these writers. I swear the writers kick back and try to think about what awful things they can do to those two each week. That said, that's also a big reason for why we like the characters, I think.
Molesley continues to be unlikable, in a pandering, greasy sort of way.
I felt like the Matthew MIA plot was finished too quickly. I wanted a special Behind Enemy Lines: Downton edition. Oh well.
That said, the reveal during the concert was well done.
PREDICTION--Mary's fiancee will find out about the Turk (from Mrs. Bates). He'll try to use it as leverage to get Mary to marry him. She'll refuse. He'll publish it. Matthew will find out that's why Mary didn't want to commit, and we'll discover his fiancee isn't all that and a bag of chips, and that's how Matthew and Mary end up together. Kind of hoping I'm wrong, though--I hope it's not that predictable.


And that's all the typing I have in me. What are your thoughts of the season so far?[image error]

Vodnik Launch Party: Ideas?

The launch date for Vodnik keeps getting closer. I'm hoping to have a book launch party  over at my local public library when the big day arrives. Only a few problems: first of all,

I'm not sure when the exact release date *is*. March 2012 is a bit nebulous. GoodReads has it down for March 28th, but I have no idea where they got that date from. Either which way, this doesn't seem to be that big of an obstacle--I mean, I'll find out what a good date is and go from there.



The slightly bigger problem is that I've never done one of these before. I know friends of mine have done them, and I've caught bits and pieces of their planning stages, but there's a big difference between hearing about a book launch party and having your own.



So.



Anyone out there been to some good ones? Run a successful one themselves? I'm open to any and all suggestions as the big day approaches.



And in related news, the GoodReads page for Vodnik is up now. If you've already read it and would like to review it (or add it to your To Be Read list), now you can! Check it out.[image error]

Sick Time Movie Reviews

I'm stuck at home. Hard to hold a book open, can barely type, can't hold a video game controller--what can I do? Press the play button. Here are quick reviews of the movies I've been watching to pass the time.



The Fighter--4/4 stars. A great addition to the boxing film library. Bale is amazing in the movie. Modern day Rocky--very worthwhile, with fantastic story and acting.



Little Big Soldier--2/4 stars. Jackie Chan in a big budget historical Chinese war movie. Needed less drama, more action and humor. Play to your strengths, Jackie. Disappointing.



Gun Shy--2/4 stars. Liam Neeson and Sandra Bullock in a nervous/anxious undercover cop romantic comedy. A few patches of fun, but ultimately it's a hodge podge of pieces that have been done better in other movies. Plus, all semblance of believability is blown at the climax.



Manhattan Murder Mystery--3/4 stars. Very fine Woody Allen murder mystery. A bit slow in parts, but ultimately a lot of fun.



Tucker & Dale vs. Evil--4/4 stars. This movie is a total guilty pleasure in the same vein as Shaun of the Dead. Gory, violent, and inappropriate. The film is brave enough to look at horror film hillbillies and ask, "What if it's all just a big misunderstanding?" Favorite quote: "Oh hidy ho officer, we've had a doozy of a day. There we were minding our own business, just doing chores around the house, when kids started killing themselves all over my property." Hilarious. (Thanks for the recommendation, Dan Wells. You saved my Tuesday from being 100% awful.)




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Broken Elbow Update

I went to the orthopedist this morning. Looks like as far as these kinds of breaks go, this was a mild one. No need for a cast, and I should be able to be out of the splint in ten days, followed by four weeks of physical therapy.



More good news: I should be able to type and use my left hand as soon as the pain goes away, which should be relatively soon. Hooray for that. I'm sick of only having one hand. You get a much greater understanding for people with disabilities when something like this happens. I can't put on my jeans, tie my own shoes, put in my lenses--all sorts of things I normally just take for granted.



Anyway--that"s about all the one-handed typing I've got in me for now. In the meantime, if you haven't entered the contest to win an advance copy of my book, now would be an excellent time. :-)



See you all tomorrow.[image error]

I broke my elbow today. What did you do?

[image error] Today at work I had the bright idea of going for a walk during my break. Thins were going swimmingly--right up until I took a right on the sidewalk and came across a spot of sidewalk that was covered in black ice, with a liberal splash of snow dusted all over it to hide it.



My legs flew out from under me, and I landed flat on my back. I got up, took another step, and fell again.



For the first half hour or so, I tried to ignore the pain. When it became too obvious that I was in denial, I went to the ER. Verdict? Left radial head fracture. It hurts like the dickens, and is in a splint right now. Tomorrow I go to the orthopedist. Fun incarnate.



Snooping around online, I see that in mild cases, I should be good to go after a few days. Major cases require surgery.



Here's hoping it's a mild case.



In the meantime, I can't use my left arm or hand. Typing with just my right is a much bigger pain than I thought it would be, which is why this post is going to be a short one. I really hope this is a fast recovery. So much of what I do requires both hands.



Sigh.



Oh well--it could have been worse.



35 years, and today's my first broken bone. Do I win something?



I'll keep you updated as I find out more.[image error]