R.A. McCandless's Blog, page 44

Lucifer and OneMillionMoms

Million Moms?  More like forty-thousand!Every now and then I check in on OneMillionMoms to see what’s up.  I love reading about their “Successes”.  They like to claim they’ve had a huge impact getting various shows cancelled, or sponsors to pull their support, when the truth is that those shows were weak to begin with, and OneMillionMoms likely had nothing to do with loss of finances or their inevitable demise.
If you haven’t had time to read up on OneMillionMoms, or their paren...

The Bat and the Boy Scout—Review of Batman vs. Superman

Nice suit!Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice was just bumped, as expected, by Melissa McCarthy’s The Boss.  Having watched the BvS this weekend, it’s easy to see why.  Zach Synder loves to recreate panels from the comic books he’s based his movies, which is sweet fan service, but also misses the mark for the fans he’s trying to serve.  He trades pacing for artistic moments which were better represented in the still-media of comic books.  Was there anyone in the theat...

Daddy, Where Do Nerds Come From?

Author's Note: This one actually came from my old blog, but as it came up recently in a discussion, I moved it over here, spruced it up a bit and am now sharing with you.  Enjoy!

Ok, bear with me, there will be prizes at the end. Is Bothan another name for soap bubble?
First, go put in your copy of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi. You know you’ve got one (I’ve got four), so go watch it, and we’ll all wait here.
That Lando, what a character, eh?
Anyhow, let me draw your attention to this particu...

And That, Your Honor, Was When I Killed Him

Bigger is always better.  Always.The bigger and more complex the company/system, the easier it is for things to slip through. Generally, I try to talk to a human and start out saying, "I need some help." It usually goes well from there. But sometimes, just sometimes, things go haywire.
Today was that day.
While investigating online why the automatic payment for my mortgage didn’t automatically get paid, I was deeply dismayed by the mortgage holder’s website which claimed that my loan has b...

Xavier and Bear at Crab Pond

Some months back, I shared the story that my youngest son, Xavier told while he was playing with one of his stuffed animals.
The story was so cute, I wanted to save it as an actual book so that I would always have it. 

I sought out an artist on Fivrr, and we got to work.  It’s been a truly wonderful experience, and I’m happy to say that the story is written, the graphics are all in, and soon the book will be formatted and available to anyone who is interested.
I'm so excited to have th...

AWP 2016

My focus is on self-marketing, branding, and finding an agent.
If you're going to be there, look me up.  I'll be the tall, thin-ish dude with that wild, look in my eyes like I've been tapped on the head with a ball peen hammer.  
Wish me luck!

Best. Easter. Ever!

Last night, my youngest (nearly 4yo) advised me that candy is what the Easter Bunny pooped.  The best part if how sincere my boys are when they tell me these kinds of things. As if they've done the research, crunched the numbers and yep, this is reality!

So, there you have it.  Enjoy your poop!

You Know Who You Are

In the Category of Ouch - Part III

Well, if you're going to be all mystical about it!It’s nice when the stars align.
Like, say you get a migraine so debilitating and painful that you end up going to the emergency room.  Sure, they treat you like a druggie looking for a quick fix, but at least you get to spend all day away from your family and suffering in pain while lying on an uncomfortable bed in a room that is meat-freezer cold.
The next day, though, you go in for your migraine Botox of 31 shots and your doctor says, “Wo...

In the Category of Ouch - Part II

Point out on the doll where the mean migraine touched you!The absolute best part of spending the entire day in ER with a face-melting migraine is when they have you read the new(ish) policy of no narcotics through bleary and pain-spotted eyes.  “Did you understand the policy, Mr. McCandless?” I was asked by the nurse.  Really?  I have to take a reading comprehension test when it’s obvious my mental capacity has been diminished to that of an 8-year-old who wants to curl up in a...