Jason Haskins's Blog, page 46
March 28, 2016
Jessica Lowndes Successfully Trolls Internet, Wins the Day
image courtesy of flickr.comToday started off innocently enough in my Twitter world. "Monday sucks" "Syracuse continues surprise run", and "Treefort Rules" filled my feed, making it for a pretty normal Monday.
Then Jessica Lowndes happened.
It started for me with a the simple headline, " Who exactly is Jessica Lowndes?"
Well, I already knew that answer. My ability to soak in pop culture information and my love of the Hallmark and Lifetime movie channels had already given me the knowledge of who she is. (Lowndes starred alongside Will Ferrell and Kristen Wiig in the their Lifetime movie collaboration last year. Lowndes also appeared in a Christmas movie on the Hallmark channel that I may or may not have watched.)
Even though I was aware of Lowndes, I clicked on the article. What I was treated to was the nugget that Lowndes, 27, was apparently dating actor/comedian Jon Lovitz, 58.
My initial thought: How did these two meet? Then I thought: Well, good for them. People find love all the time and as long as they are both consenting adults and happy, so be it. (Though, considering their gap in "stardom" one might wonder if she was just using him as a power play. And the shot of his hand on her inner thigh wasn't really necessary.)
Entertainment websites went crazy with this story. Articles were being written based off of Instagram posts and speculation was that the two were engaged.
The internet was flooded with comments ripping into the two about their gap in age. The website Jezebel joined the circus, getting in on the action by basically ugly/gross shaming Jon Lovitz and assigning judgment on Lowndes for her choice in men.(A whole different topic entirely).
A love and need of celebrity gossip and style led to this sort of "news" dominating the entertainment news cycle for much of the morning and into the afternoon. Though there was the normal internet vile being spewed, Chrissy Tiegen came to the defense of Lowndes' and also planted the thought of trickery taking place.
I smell April fools on this lowndes/lovitz relationship but if I'm wrong whoops jk screw everyone f the haters do you, you two— christine teigen (@chrissyteigen) March 28, 2016And there it was. Lowndes would announce earlier this afternoon that the entire thing was a PR stunt to announce her new music video (of which stills were used as the bait in Instagram photos, I believe. I didn't actually watch the video). It was all an early April Fool's Day joke.
It was brilliant and a comment on today's "pump it out quick" hot takes before news even has a chance to settle. It also played perfectly on part of society's obsession with celebrities and their lives.
Lowndes (and I'm assuming a PR team) took advantage of this aspect and the hot button of older men dating younger women. They used it to their advantage to reel in outlets like CNN. I'm sure the video on Vevo has garnered a lot of hits, mostly to give a listen to a woman many had never heard of before today.
Though technically not news, Louis CK's email to his subscriber list last week, detailing how he reads the newspaper still because it usually gives him detailed and researched information, plays along perfectly with the amount of "news" that gets published immediately on the internet without giving much thought to what is actually going on. Though there are definitely great websites out there (news outlets included) that have detailed articles (many of which also appear in print), he is correct in that many websites jump the gun just to deliver a brash, in your face headline without very little substance.
I get it. I do. I'm on Twitter and I occasionally drop hot takes, trying to be the first to crack a joke or state my opinion. It's the world we live in. The difference, though, is that I'm not necessarily trying to break news and so many different sites and people are. They want to be the first to report something. They want to be the lead on something with an opinion, validated or not, and take the internet by storm.
Today, Jessica Lowndes did that by using these people to her advantage. If celebrity obsession didn't exist, this idea that she was dating Lovitz wouldn't have even gained much traction. To think, Lowndes isn't even a Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Jennifer Aniston, or Jennifer Lawrence level of celebrity. Would she had received this much attention if she was?
This wasn't the first time something like this has happened and it certainly won't be the last. Whether it be in pop culture, sports, or politics, news is going to be written on or spoke about quickly. There are certain situations in which this is needed. A celebrity's love life is not one of them. They may choose to live life in the public eye, but in the end, it is still their own life to live, even if it turns out to be a clever April Fool's Day joke.
Hot takes equal clicks. Clicks equal money. And for Lowndes, she won the internet, at least for a day. For that, I applaud her. She used the system to her advantage. It may be short lived, but at least for now, people are fully aware of who Jessica Lowndes. And for that, I applaud her.
March 25, 2016
The Things I Think
The Week of 3/21/16
In lieu of a regularly scheduled post of focusing on one thing, this week I decided I will cover a wide array of topics. They don't quite fit under my Old Man Rants series (though some undoubtedly will sound similar) so I decided I will simply label this week's post THE THINGS I THINK.
Will they change the world? Probably not. There is nothing here that is ground breaking, as far as I can tell. The topics are simply items of interest that have caught my attention over the past week or so.
The Information of the Internet Super Highway
There is so much that can be said about this, but I will keep it short. As a writer of articles and posts for the internet, I appreciate that there are so many opportunities for writers to have a chance to get there work seen and read. For that I'm appreciative.
The part of the internet catching my attention this week is the amount of noise that exists out there that people buy into without quick research astounds me. I shouldn't be astounded by this, but am intrigued as to why people simply click, share, and like on articles that aren't accurate. Simple research can usually disprove or reaffirm what they are sharing with the masses.
I don't even place blame in the people themselves. I'm talking about the websites that are solely designed to garner clicks and traffic based off of misinformation. I'm not talking about satirical websites such as THE ONION or CLICKHOLE or THE KICKER. And, even as political season is at full steam, I'm not even speaking about that.
I'm speaking about this headline I saw recently: "Notebook 2 to begin filming near [insert town]. Original cast/crew re-united, extras needed."
Now, there are certainly headlines like this that are true. Here, a quick search of Google indicated that this was happening in at least four different towns. The Google search also brought up a link to Snopes.com, which verified my initial reaction. This is false.
I've seen the same thing now with articles being shared about Star Wars: Episode VIII, essentially repeating identical information as in the Notebook 2 article. A simple Google search indicates this is the only site reporting this, a good bet that's it's not true.
Pro Tip: If the article states "according to sources" and has no sources to back it up, it might be false. Do your research. The internet has a plethora of information, don't get me wrong, but sometimes sifting through the noise is beneficial to not just you, but also your friends.
Podcast Love
Being the old soul that I am, I have only recently stepped into this world of listening to podcasts. I'm now discovering I have a lot of ground to make up.
First, I took care of Serial. No need to go into that much, since it's considered old news to many at this point. For what it's worth, I still think Adnan did it, but his case is currently being considered for a re-trial so we'll see.
I have also been listening to Welcome to Night Vale and a podcast hosted by Michael Rapaport over at iamrapaport.com. Rapaport started this podcast in the early fall of 2015, I believe, and I've just begun to work through the back log of podcasts, including a few new ones, but he's entertaining and funny.
I've listed a few others in the 'Check These Out' section of this site.
March Madness
Raise your hand if your bracket was ruined by Michigan State losing in the first round. Come on, raise it. I'm doing it and I'm sitting by myself in a coffee shop.
I had the Spartans winning it all. They made me look foolish for the belief I had in them. Meanwhile, a team that the Boise State Broncos beat earlier this season has made it to the Elite Eight. College basketball is truly an exciting entity in and of itself. Despite the team I picked being eliminated, I still can't take my eyes off of March Madness.
Now, raise your other hand if you thought the Oregon Ducks would be the first number one seed eliminated and not be around the second Saturday of the tournament. I'm hoping at this point both of your hands are raised because mine are.
(You can read more of my thoughts on March Madness here. A few weeks old, but I stand by my statements.)
Odds and Ends
-It's Treefort time again in Boise. There are tattoos, piercings, beards, and people wearing skinny jeans as far as the eye can see. The weather is doing it's best not to cooperate this year, but people are still lining the streets to see over 400 bands grace the stage in the City of Trees over the next three days.
The event has swelled and it is great to see this much artistic involvement in Boise. The event brings music, film, yoga, comedy, beer, and kids together for one common thread: to have a good time. Definitely take a chance to check it out, even if it's for one band or one yoga session.
-Seriously. Enough with the petty, childish differences from our political parties. In a time when citizens of America should be uniting, we are letting these squabbles and these men (and women) divide us. Apparently there isn't a leader in our country out there that believes in United we stand, Divided we fall. (There is one, but the chance of him getting past the primary are looking bleaker and bleaker. We'll see)
Rest in peace to Garry Shandling. Though the following clip is from Freaks and Geeks, the connection between the music, the actor, and Shandling is spot on.
And rest in peace to Phife Dawg of A Tribe Called Quest. One of the great pioneers of the Rap Game.
In lieu of a regularly scheduled post of focusing on one thing, this week I decided I will cover a wide array of topics. They don't quite fit under my Old Man Rants series (though some undoubtedly will sound similar) so I decided I will simply label this week's post THE THINGS I THINK.
Will they change the world? Probably not. There is nothing here that is ground breaking, as far as I can tell. The topics are simply items of interest that have caught my attention over the past week or so.
The Information of the Internet Super Highway
There is so much that can be said about this, but I will keep it short. As a writer of articles and posts for the internet, I appreciate that there are so many opportunities for writers to have a chance to get there work seen and read. For that I'm appreciative.
The part of the internet catching my attention this week is the amount of noise that exists out there that people buy into without quick research astounds me. I shouldn't be astounded by this, but am intrigued as to why people simply click, share, and like on articles that aren't accurate. Simple research can usually disprove or reaffirm what they are sharing with the masses.
I don't even place blame in the people themselves. I'm talking about the websites that are solely designed to garner clicks and traffic based off of misinformation. I'm not talking about satirical websites such as THE ONION or CLICKHOLE or THE KICKER. And, even as political season is at full steam, I'm not even speaking about that.
I'm speaking about this headline I saw recently: "Notebook 2 to begin filming near [insert town]. Original cast/crew re-united, extras needed."
Now, there are certainly headlines like this that are true. Here, a quick search of Google indicated that this was happening in at least four different towns. The Google search also brought up a link to Snopes.com, which verified my initial reaction. This is false.
I've seen the same thing now with articles being shared about Star Wars: Episode VIII, essentially repeating identical information as in the Notebook 2 article. A simple Google search indicates this is the only site reporting this, a good bet that's it's not true.
Pro Tip: If the article states "according to sources" and has no sources to back it up, it might be false. Do your research. The internet has a plethora of information, don't get me wrong, but sometimes sifting through the noise is beneficial to not just you, but also your friends.
Podcast Love
Being the old soul that I am, I have only recently stepped into this world of listening to podcasts. I'm now discovering I have a lot of ground to make up.
First, I took care of Serial. No need to go into that much, since it's considered old news to many at this point. For what it's worth, I still think Adnan did it, but his case is currently being considered for a re-trial so we'll see.
I have also been listening to Welcome to Night Vale and a podcast hosted by Michael Rapaport over at iamrapaport.com. Rapaport started this podcast in the early fall of 2015, I believe, and I've just begun to work through the back log of podcasts, including a few new ones, but he's entertaining and funny.
I've listed a few others in the 'Check These Out' section of this site.
March Madness
Raise your hand if your bracket was ruined by Michigan State losing in the first round. Come on, raise it. I'm doing it and I'm sitting by myself in a coffee shop.
I had the Spartans winning it all. They made me look foolish for the belief I had in them. Meanwhile, a team that the Boise State Broncos beat earlier this season has made it to the Elite Eight. College basketball is truly an exciting entity in and of itself. Despite the team I picked being eliminated, I still can't take my eyes off of March Madness.
Now, raise your other hand if you thought the Oregon Ducks would be the first number one seed eliminated and not be around the second Saturday of the tournament. I'm hoping at this point both of your hands are raised because mine are.
(You can read more of my thoughts on March Madness here. A few weeks old, but I stand by my statements.)
Odds and Ends
-It's Treefort time again in Boise. There are tattoos, piercings, beards, and people wearing skinny jeans as far as the eye can see. The weather is doing it's best not to cooperate this year, but people are still lining the streets to see over 400 bands grace the stage in the City of Trees over the next three days.
The event has swelled and it is great to see this much artistic involvement in Boise. The event brings music, film, yoga, comedy, beer, and kids together for one common thread: to have a good time. Definitely take a chance to check it out, even if it's for one band or one yoga session.
-Seriously. Enough with the petty, childish differences from our political parties. In a time when citizens of America should be uniting, we are letting these squabbles and these men (and women) divide us. Apparently there isn't a leader in our country out there that believes in United we stand, Divided we fall. (There is one, but the chance of him getting past the primary are looking bleaker and bleaker. We'll see)
Rest in peace to Garry Shandling. Though the following clip is from Freaks and Geeks, the connection between the music, the actor, and Shandling is spot on.
And rest in peace to Phife Dawg of A Tribe Called Quest. One of the great pioneers of the Rap Game.
March 9, 2016
Two A.M. Love
The following is a story I submitted to a contest. There was a prompt to get the ball rolling. Contestants were given three options, all of which were lyrics from songs. While I was not selected as a finalist, I admittedly spent very little time in preparing it. When a five-day pass to Treefort is on the line, I figured I'd still give it a shot.
Jessie is a friend. Those four simple words sent me into a state of drunken denial as I prepared to gulp down my last shot of Jameson of the night.
The four words echoed in my ears as I scanned the bar for any sight of Jessie. The majority of the patrons had dispersed, leaving only the clingers, the lonely, and the too drunk to function. I glanced at my good friend Alicia, who also happened to be my ride and the woman who moments earlier had bluntly informed me of the fact I'd grown oblivious to. Alicia had switched to drinking water hours before, not needing alcohol to act as her truth serum. Did I need more Jameson? No, but I was not going to swallow a bitter pill without a powerful chaser.
I reached for the shot glass. Grasping it firmly between my thumb and index finger, the vessel containing the nectar of the Irish Gods was ready for its final journey of the night. A final look around the bar indicated to me that Jessie was already gone, most likely slipping out the back door with her latest conquest. In one swift motion, her void was replaced by the smooth taste of whiskey. All part of the spoils of being relegated to a friend zone littered with the bodies of the broken men that came before me.
Wiping away from my lips the last remnants of liquid courage, I turned to Alicia. "Ready."
Alicia smiled from the corner of her mouth, the same smile Joey gave Dawson when she pitied him all those years on "the Creek". Alicia was more than my friend. She was my confidant, my sidekick, my partner in crime. Most importantly, she was my hero. How else could you describe someone that so expertly put up with me constantly ending up in the same situations?
A wave of nausea suddenly attacked my body. Bleary eyed, my blue eyes met the eyes of Alicia. She gently placed her hands on my knees. I cocked my head, sighing. "What?"
"Let it go," replied Alicia, her serene voice beckoning.
"I'm tired of this always happening. Jessie was supposed to be more than a friend," I whined.
"I know the feeling."
Alicia's hands were still on my knees. The room spinning, my eyes once again found her eyes. For the first time, the windows of the soul showed me what I'd been missing. I am Alicia's Jessie. A look of recognition must have crossed my face because Alicia smiled broadly. She wasted little time in cupping my cheeks with her palms and, placing her lips on mine, kissed me for what seemed like eternity. The is probably moot, but Alicia was right about Jessie being a friend. One can only hope Alicia accepted my reciprocal kiss as the first step to me acknowledging her infinite wisdom. For once in my life, the two a.m kiss was not just a kiss, but a beginning.
Jessie is a friend. Those four simple words sent me into a state of drunken denial as I prepared to gulp down my last shot of Jameson of the night.
The four words echoed in my ears as I scanned the bar for any sight of Jessie. The majority of the patrons had dispersed, leaving only the clingers, the lonely, and the too drunk to function. I glanced at my good friend Alicia, who also happened to be my ride and the woman who moments earlier had bluntly informed me of the fact I'd grown oblivious to. Alicia had switched to drinking water hours before, not needing alcohol to act as her truth serum. Did I need more Jameson? No, but I was not going to swallow a bitter pill without a powerful chaser.
I reached for the shot glass. Grasping it firmly between my thumb and index finger, the vessel containing the nectar of the Irish Gods was ready for its final journey of the night. A final look around the bar indicated to me that Jessie was already gone, most likely slipping out the back door with her latest conquest. In one swift motion, her void was replaced by the smooth taste of whiskey. All part of the spoils of being relegated to a friend zone littered with the bodies of the broken men that came before me.
Wiping away from my lips the last remnants of liquid courage, I turned to Alicia. "Ready."
Alicia smiled from the corner of her mouth, the same smile Joey gave Dawson when she pitied him all those years on "the Creek". Alicia was more than my friend. She was my confidant, my sidekick, my partner in crime. Most importantly, she was my hero. How else could you describe someone that so expertly put up with me constantly ending up in the same situations?
A wave of nausea suddenly attacked my body. Bleary eyed, my blue eyes met the eyes of Alicia. She gently placed her hands on my knees. I cocked my head, sighing. "What?"
"Let it go," replied Alicia, her serene voice beckoning.
"I'm tired of this always happening. Jessie was supposed to be more than a friend," I whined.
"I know the feeling."
Alicia's hands were still on my knees. The room spinning, my eyes once again found her eyes. For the first time, the windows of the soul showed me what I'd been missing. I am Alicia's Jessie. A look of recognition must have crossed my face because Alicia smiled broadly. She wasted little time in cupping my cheeks with her palms and, placing her lips on mine, kissed me for what seemed like eternity. The is probably moot, but Alicia was right about Jessie being a friend. One can only hope Alicia accepted my reciprocal kiss as the first step to me acknowledging her infinite wisdom. For once in my life, the two a.m kiss was not just a kiss, but a beginning.
March 4, 2016
Golden State Warriors: Splashing Towards History
Last season, en route to winning the franchise's first championship in 40 years, the If people thought that, it's probably beyond time to re-evaluate their opinion.
Following up their magical season, the Warriors are looking to outdo themselves. After a 121-106 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday night, the Warriors improved to 55-5 on the year. If you're looking to keep track at home, the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls were 54-6 through 60 games. Those are the very same Bulls that finished 72-10.
Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls played some the best basketball in NBA history between 1995-1998. The Bulls record of 72 wins was one that I personally believed would never be broken. The NBA has become such a competitive landscape that, even as the Warriors started 24-0, I held a firm belief they would eventually fall off and lose about 15 games.
Now, while that is still entirely possible, I find it difficult to fathom them going 12-10 over their remaining games. That would take a devastating injury or Steve Kerr saying, "Hey, let's rest all my good players. Either way, I'll still be part of the record."
Comparisons between the two teams have been elicited over the past few weeks, with former players ranging from Oscar Robertson to Cedric Ceballos weighing in on the issue. Many of them are talking about poor coaching and defense as the problem, giving very little credit to Steph Curry and his teammates for what they've actually accomplished.
To some extent, I agree with the comments about the physicality (or lack thereof) in today's NBA. Curry would have constantly been reminded to not enter the paint, lest he be knocked to the ground. (I still contend Allen Iverson's career was shortened by at least three years because of the beating he took in games.) I think the defense of yesteryear would have dictated how the Warriors played.
Of course, Curry can shoot the ball like none other in the game before him (Sorry Ray Allen). The man is lights out and he could have thrived with his shooting in any era.
Back to the issue at hand. Will the Warriors end up beating the record held by the Bulls?
Golden State is averaging 115.4 points per game, while Chicago averaged 105.2 during their run, leading the league. Now, this may seem like a big difference, but it is good to be reminded that the style of play was much different. The physicality of the 90's led to lower scoring games, so averaging over 100 was considered quite the coup.
Looking closer at point differential, it can be seen that Golden State allows 104.2 points per game. If I saw that stat alone, I'd think their defense is not very good. Once again, style of play comes into effect. It is such an up and down game in this era, that an 11.2 point differential is certainly doing the trick.
The Chicago Bulls? Their point differential was 12.3, allowing only 92.9. This was good for third overall, while the Warriors are currently 22nd.
The Warriors do much more than score, averaging 29.1 assists (1st) and 46.3 rebounds (4th) per game.
22 games remain for the Warriors and it seems like breaking the record maybe in their favor. Fifteen of those games are at home, where Golden State is currently undefeated this season.
Playing at home will be an asset, as 12 of the 22 games will be against teams that are currently sitting at .500 or better.
The Warriors biggest hurdle? Two games against the San Antonio Spurs, including one in San Antonio. The Spurs also have not lost at home this season and, at 52-9, are quietly putting together one of the best seasons in NBA history. One that is only being overlooked because of what Curry and the Warriors are accomplishing.
Barring any sort of major debacle or seeing as how they were on the cover of Sports Illustrated, the SI cover jinx, the Warriors will move the Bulls down one notch for best single season record. I'm going to go out on a limb and say they finish 74-8.
Curry, averaging 30.7 points per game while shooting 51.4% from the field (ridiculous for a guard) has already broken his single-season three-point record and is playing lights out. Despite Curry's numbers, I'd argue that Draymond Green is more important and is the true MVP of the team. He averages 13.8 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 7.4 assists per game.
Without Green, the Warriors were simply a team that was exciting and drained a lot of threes. Curry and Klay Thompson were exciting as the Splash Brothers, but Green has kicked them into gear with stellar defense and all-around great play. Reminiscent of another era when the Warriors once had an three-headed monster leading the team and bringing excitement, these guys are in need of a new nickname. A nickname that all three can enjoy.
Run DKS anyone?
Following up their magical season, the Warriors are looking to outdo themselves. After a 121-106 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday night, the Warriors improved to 55-5 on the year. If you're looking to keep track at home, the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls were 54-6 through 60 games. Those are the very same Bulls that finished 72-10.
Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls played some the best basketball in NBA history between 1995-1998. The Bulls record of 72 wins was one that I personally believed would never be broken. The NBA has become such a competitive landscape that, even as the Warriors started 24-0, I held a firm belief they would eventually fall off and lose about 15 games.
Now, while that is still entirely possible, I find it difficult to fathom them going 12-10 over their remaining games. That would take a devastating injury or Steve Kerr saying, "Hey, let's rest all my good players. Either way, I'll still be part of the record."
Comparisons between the two teams have been elicited over the past few weeks, with former players ranging from Oscar Robertson to Cedric Ceballos weighing in on the issue. Many of them are talking about poor coaching and defense as the problem, giving very little credit to Steph Curry and his teammates for what they've actually accomplished.
To some extent, I agree with the comments about the physicality (or lack thereof) in today's NBA. Curry would have constantly been reminded to not enter the paint, lest he be knocked to the ground. (I still contend Allen Iverson's career was shortened by at least three years because of the beating he took in games.) I think the defense of yesteryear would have dictated how the Warriors played.
Of course, Curry can shoot the ball like none other in the game before him (Sorry Ray Allen). The man is lights out and he could have thrived with his shooting in any era.
Back to the issue at hand. Will the Warriors end up beating the record held by the Bulls?
Golden State is averaging 115.4 points per game, while Chicago averaged 105.2 during their run, leading the league. Now, this may seem like a big difference, but it is good to be reminded that the style of play was much different. The physicality of the 90's led to lower scoring games, so averaging over 100 was considered quite the coup.
Looking closer at point differential, it can be seen that Golden State allows 104.2 points per game. If I saw that stat alone, I'd think their defense is not very good. Once again, style of play comes into effect. It is such an up and down game in this era, that an 11.2 point differential is certainly doing the trick.
The Chicago Bulls? Their point differential was 12.3, allowing only 92.9. This was good for third overall, while the Warriors are currently 22nd.
The Warriors do much more than score, averaging 29.1 assists (1st) and 46.3 rebounds (4th) per game.
22 games remain for the Warriors and it seems like breaking the record maybe in their favor. Fifteen of those games are at home, where Golden State is currently undefeated this season.
Playing at home will be an asset, as 12 of the 22 games will be against teams that are currently sitting at .500 or better.
The Warriors biggest hurdle? Two games against the San Antonio Spurs, including one in San Antonio. The Spurs also have not lost at home this season and, at 52-9, are quietly putting together one of the best seasons in NBA history. One that is only being overlooked because of what Curry and the Warriors are accomplishing.
Barring any sort of major debacle or seeing as how they were on the cover of Sports Illustrated, the SI cover jinx, the Warriors will move the Bulls down one notch for best single season record. I'm going to go out on a limb and say they finish 74-8.
Curry, averaging 30.7 points per game while shooting 51.4% from the field (ridiculous for a guard) has already broken his single-season three-point record and is playing lights out. Despite Curry's numbers, I'd argue that Draymond Green is more important and is the true MVP of the team. He averages 13.8 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 7.4 assists per game.
Without Green, the Warriors were simply a team that was exciting and drained a lot of threes. Curry and Klay Thompson were exciting as the Splash Brothers, but Green has kicked them into gear with stellar defense and all-around great play. Reminiscent of another era when the Warriors once had an three-headed monster leading the team and bringing excitement, these guys are in need of a new nickname. A nickname that all three can enjoy.
Run DKS anyone?
The Long Journey to the Middle
"The only true currency in this bankrupt world is what you share with someone else when you're uncool."- Almost Famous
In the year 2000, when I was but an impressionable youth yet to truly hit the rough patches of life, the movie Almost Famous arrived in cinemas. Judging by the trailers and the previous hits of Cameron Crowe, I knew I'd be seeing a good movie.
By the time the entire band was singing Tiny Dancer on their tour bus, I was hooked. Chills filled my entire body, tears swelled in the corner of my eyes, and I knew right then that this movie was going to on favorites list for years to come.
Sixteen years later, in what turned out to be one of the few times in my life I was right, Almost Famous remains as one of my top-five favorite films of all time. I make it a point to watch it at least once a year, perhaps more if I happen to catch it on television. As for that scene? It still evokes memories and chills in me to this day.
Little did we know at the time, but (as of this writing), Almost Famous would turn out to be Crowe's greatest cinematic achievement.
The film was semi-autobiographical in nature, as Crowe was once a young reporter with Rolling Stone Magazine. He had the opportunities to tour with many bands in the 70's. It is even said that the character of Russell was based on the late Glenn Frey. Crowe even wrote a moving tribute to Frey after the former Eagles band member recently passed away.
Almost Famous may have been the pinnacle of Crowe's career because of his intense personal attachment to the story. To that point in his career, Crowe really hadn't had a failure. Fast Times at Ridgemont High and Say Anything are both classics from the 1980's. Jerry Maguire delivered the money in the 90's. Things were only supposed to keep soaring after Almost Famous.
Then the slide began. Crowe's recent attempts of Elizabethtown, We Bought a Zoo, and Aloha, despite a fair amount of star power, have not lived up to expectations, critical or at the box office. Crowe had gone from a writer/director who always delivered to a writer/director that was being lambasted by studio executives during the great Sony hack of 2014.
What had happened? Were these movies really that bad? Short answer: no. All three of the aforementioned had moments of humor, scenes of sincerity, and genuine performances. Nothing about those movies, though, are iconic. There is no Lloyd Dobler with a boombox or stating "I gave her my heart, she gave me a pen." There is no "Show me the money!" or "You complete me." And there is certainly no "I am a Golden God!"
Which brings us back to Almost Famous. This is a film that is not only well-written and well-directed, but is littered with a cast gives amazing performances. Billy Crudup as guitar player Russell, balances the right amount of cool and brooding in this part. Kate Hudson delivers the best performance of her career as Penny Lane. Zooey Deschanel, Frances McDormand, Jason Lee this list can go on and on. An entire post could probably be spent on the late, great Philip Seymour Hoffman, who plays Lester Bangs. The acting in this film is top notch.
The journey of the fictional band Stillwater, of Penny Lane, and most importantly, of William Miller (Patrick Fugit) plays out right before our eyes. To me, there is so much that can be said about the closeness and dysfunction in a sequence of scenes in the last third of the movie. (SPOILER ALERTS ahead). First, after arriving in New York, the band discovers that William's relationship with the band has landed them on the cover of the Rolling Stone. Part of the brilliance of these sequence of events is the juxtaposition of what is supposed to be the pinnacle of the journey fighting against watching the entire bottom fall out of everything these people aspired to be.
Leading to this:
I don't want to break down this scene any more than that, except to say that the three songs selected bring the scene to a perfect crescendo. Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters by Elton John starts it off, Chicago's Colour My World follows up, and Stevie Wonder's My Cherie Amour brings it all home. The three songs amp up what is already a touching and dramatic scene.
[Sidenote: I will say that Cameron Crowe can still piece together a good soundtrack, even if his movies haven't been up to par.]
Almost Famous is still a movie that resonates deeply with me. There is something about the idea of perseverance, friendship, and love in this film that awakens inside of me the idea that we should all keep pursuing the things we want in life. These are qualities that can bring out the worst in us, but in the end are overpowered by the best in us. And that's what keeps us from being "one of the out-of-focus guys."
I'll see you all in Morocco.
In the year 2000, when I was but an impressionable youth yet to truly hit the rough patches of life, the movie Almost Famous arrived in cinemas. Judging by the trailers and the previous hits of Cameron Crowe, I knew I'd be seeing a good movie.
By the time the entire band was singing Tiny Dancer on their tour bus, I was hooked. Chills filled my entire body, tears swelled in the corner of my eyes, and I knew right then that this movie was going to on favorites list for years to come.
Sixteen years later, in what turned out to be one of the few times in my life I was right, Almost Famous remains as one of my top-five favorite films of all time. I make it a point to watch it at least once a year, perhaps more if I happen to catch it on television. As for that scene? It still evokes memories and chills in me to this day.
Little did we know at the time, but (as of this writing), Almost Famous would turn out to be Crowe's greatest cinematic achievement.
The film was semi-autobiographical in nature, as Crowe was once a young reporter with Rolling Stone Magazine. He had the opportunities to tour with many bands in the 70's. It is even said that the character of Russell was based on the late Glenn Frey. Crowe even wrote a moving tribute to Frey after the former Eagles band member recently passed away.
Almost Famous may have been the pinnacle of Crowe's career because of his intense personal attachment to the story. To that point in his career, Crowe really hadn't had a failure. Fast Times at Ridgemont High and Say Anything are both classics from the 1980's. Jerry Maguire delivered the money in the 90's. Things were only supposed to keep soaring after Almost Famous.
Then the slide began. Crowe's recent attempts of Elizabethtown, We Bought a Zoo, and Aloha, despite a fair amount of star power, have not lived up to expectations, critical or at the box office. Crowe had gone from a writer/director who always delivered to a writer/director that was being lambasted by studio executives during the great Sony hack of 2014.
What had happened? Were these movies really that bad? Short answer: no. All three of the aforementioned had moments of humor, scenes of sincerity, and genuine performances. Nothing about those movies, though, are iconic. There is no Lloyd Dobler with a boombox or stating "I gave her my heart, she gave me a pen." There is no "Show me the money!" or "You complete me." And there is certainly no "I am a Golden God!"
Which brings us back to Almost Famous. This is a film that is not only well-written and well-directed, but is littered with a cast gives amazing performances. Billy Crudup as guitar player Russell, balances the right amount of cool and brooding in this part. Kate Hudson delivers the best performance of her career as Penny Lane. Zooey Deschanel, Frances McDormand, Jason Lee this list can go on and on. An entire post could probably be spent on the late, great Philip Seymour Hoffman, who plays Lester Bangs. The acting in this film is top notch.
The journey of the fictional band Stillwater, of Penny Lane, and most importantly, of William Miller (Patrick Fugit) plays out right before our eyes. To me, there is so much that can be said about the closeness and dysfunction in a sequence of scenes in the last third of the movie. (SPOILER ALERTS ahead). First, after arriving in New York, the band discovers that William's relationship with the band has landed them on the cover of the Rolling Stone. Part of the brilliance of these sequence of events is the juxtaposition of what is supposed to be the pinnacle of the journey fighting against watching the entire bottom fall out of everything these people aspired to be.
Leading to this:
I don't want to break down this scene any more than that, except to say that the three songs selected bring the scene to a perfect crescendo. Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters by Elton John starts it off, Chicago's Colour My World follows up, and Stevie Wonder's My Cherie Amour brings it all home. The three songs amp up what is already a touching and dramatic scene.
[Sidenote: I will say that Cameron Crowe can still piece together a good soundtrack, even if his movies haven't been up to par.]
Almost Famous is still a movie that resonates deeply with me. There is something about the idea of perseverance, friendship, and love in this film that awakens inside of me the idea that we should all keep pursuing the things we want in life. These are qualities that can bring out the worst in us, but in the end are overpowered by the best in us. And that's what keeps us from being "one of the out-of-focus guys."
I'll see you all in Morocco.
February 21, 2016
Digging into the Past
image courtesy of flickr.comThis morning, while searching through various notebooks in hopes of triggering some creativity for a writing prompt, I discovered an old journal of mine. The journal was kept primarily during my four years living in Los Angeles (book-ended by entries of late-college life in Boise and, years later, my return). I spent the next hour reading what filled these pages. There was angst. There was heartbreak. There were thoughts about writing, acting, and the pursuit of a career that lacks stability.
I learned that I have grown, but so much, ten plus years later, remains the same.
To be fair, what I was writing about plagues most of us, at some point. Lost loves and yearning are a major theme during those years. And when I say major theme, I mean it took up about 70% of the pages. Proving again that I was once a person that believed in fate, destiny and the like.
These past experiences with love have certainly shaped the person I am today. One that has not given up on the idea, but a person that does not rely on the comfort of another to gauge my happiness and success. I suppose in that way I have let go of the past. (Though a significant other by my side at this point in life would be an added bonus. Wait, does that mean I need to start a new journal? No.)
Lack of money and stability were other common themes present in the journal. This was present during the Los Angeles years mostly. A fight between doing what I wanted to do and working at a movie theater to pay the bills. (I suppose this hasn't changed much over the years. Repeating mistakes? Or just stuck in a vicious cycle? Probably a little of both.)
Rediscovering this journal, if I were an outsider looking in, would lead me to believe that all was depressing in those days. I was depressed when much of that writing took place. There are intervals, though, of when much wasn't written. Those were the happier times. I suppose I wrote in the journal to get my feelings of despair, loneliness, and frustration out of my system. And it helped, not only personally but in crafting the stories I tell to this day.
Letting go of the past. It is much easier said than done, as is repeating the mistakes of the past. I have learned from them, in most instances, but on days like this, when I re-read the journal, I am whisked away to that time period. I think of people I haven't thought of years. Women I liked but never had the courage to talk to. I think of people still in my life and how I have chosen to keep them in my life, despite the good and the bad. Most importantly, I think of how lucky I am to still be here; to be fighting the good fight and trying to make a career of what I love.
Is there regret? Very little. Living with regret means living in the past. It's cliche to say, but we only get one chance at this life. There have been a few regrets, but only in situations, not decisions. Situations that might have been handled better in order to reach the same conclusion. I think a lot of those years chronicled in the journal I was living in regret. And insecurity. And a lack of courage.
Do I still have those things present in my life? Yes, sans the regret. As for the other two: I have learned that they will always be present in my life, but I have learned not to dwell on them. I have the strength to acknowledge those feelings when they pop up and to use them as fuel. If anything, my past and present have taught to be one thing:
Thankful.
Stray Thoughts
-I wrote of how America was too paranoid. This was in 2003. I wrote of a kid being sent home from school because he wore an "Anti-Bush" t-shirt. People claimed this shirt was shown as "Pro-terrorism". Today, those same people that had this "pro-terrorist" sentiment about an "Anti-Bush" shirt probably own an "Anti-Obama" shirt and call it freedom of speech.
-I wrote about the Boston Red Sox losing in the ALCS in 2003 and winning the World Series in 2004. In 2003, I tied my supposed bad luck in life to the curse of the Red Sox. Boston and I were won in the same. That year, I wanted to change my allegiance, looking for a team with better luck. I'm glad I stuck with Boston.
-Many of the entries were written past 2 am, after a long drinking session. That maybe telling of the topics of the entries. Or it may not. I'll let others be the judge of that.
"Life is short, break the rules.
Forgive quickly, kiss slowly
Love truly, laugh uncontrollably
And never regret anything that makes you smile."- Mark Twain
February 12, 2016
7 Comedy Films to Help You Through Valentine's Day
Valentine’s Day, for those of us that are single and alone, might be a tricky holiday to navigate. There are many people out there that embrace being single. They aren’t tied down to making plans, are free to explore with other single people, and simply enjoy the fact they don’t have to spend money on a significant other. The people falling into this category currently enjoy where they are in life and don’t let Valentine’s Day affect them one way or the other.
Then there are those of us who feel like the one thing they are missing out in life is a significant other. Valentine’s Day helps to reaffirm that belief, with an annual release of a new Nicholas Sparks movie hammering home the fact that true love is out there for everyone.
Falling into a category of feeling alone and perhaps depressed on Valentine’s Day, you decide you will barricade yourself in your apartment or house for the evening.
You’ve bought yourself a box of chocolates and bottle of wine, already knowing full well the chances are slim you won’t have any leftover wine for the following evening. If you’ve also added movie watching to your list of Valentine’s Day activities, save yourself from taking that final step in loneliness by watching the sappy love story or the tried and true romantic comedy.
Instead, take the time to watch one (or three) of these time-tested comedies to help turn that Valentine’s Day frown upside down.
Blazing Saddles
There are any number of Mel Brooks movies (or Gene Wilder movies, for that matter) that can be included on this list. From Young Frankenstein to Spaceballs, Brooks has been making audiences laugh for years.
This ultimate spoof of Westerns is the pinnacle of his achievements. Wilder is in top form, aided with great comedic performances by Madeline Kahn, Cleavon Little, and Harvey Korman. Not only are the laughs plentiful, but the social commentary within this film still resonates to this day.
Caddyshack
Bill Murray. Chevy Chase. Rodney Dangerfield. A dancing gopher. What more do you need to know?
Directed by Harold Ramis and written by Ramis and Brian Doyle-Murray, Caddyshack is centered around the eccentric members, staff, and associates of a local golf club. While technically a movie that centers around golf, one does not need to know the game of golf forward and backward to enjoy this movie. Released nearly 40 years ago, this film has the right amount of dirty and raunchy jokes to hopefully bring a smile to the lonely faces on Valentine’s Day.
The Jerk
The first starring role for Steve Martin provides the perfect opportunity to show off his many talents. Martin plays a character named Navin and any number of labels have been applied to the character over the years: idiotic, naive, simple. It doesn’t matter. It is part of the charm and comedy of this movie.
Most of all, it’s a movie about finding your rhythm. And on Valentine’s Day, if you’re alone or have a significant other, it’s all about rhythm.
Airplane!
Like Mel Brooks, Jim Abrahams and Jerry and David Zucker have been making audiences laugh for years. Airplane! also goes the spoof route and pulls off a mix of low-brow comedy, clever sight gags, and silly jokes that many modern day spoof films fail to capitalize on.
Airplane! is centered around a flight that goes awry when the pilots, much of the crew and passengers are all infected with food poisoning. There is only one man aboard that can fly the plane (Robert Hays), but he has deep personal issues that may prevent him from saving everyone aboard.
Plus, Leslie Nielsen is in the film, doing some of the best work in his career.
Old School
“Y-You’re crazy, man. You’re crazy. I like you, but you’re crazy.” Frank (Will Ferrell), Old School.
Those lines of dialogue perfectly describe the comedic values in this 2003 hit from Todd Phillips. Taglines for the film went as far as embracing this aspect, as one read, “Critics say Old School is dumb and pointless. We say, ‘WHO CARES?’”
Go forth and get a glimpse of what it would look like when three grown men start a fraternity. (Then, if you’re feeling really daring, go watch Jeremy Piven, who plays the Dean, play the opposite version of this character in PCU.)
Bridesmaids
Bridesmaids is less than five years old, but it is destined to become a classic. While Kristen Wiig’s character is in search of love as one of the through lines, the film should not be classified as a romantic comedy. The story is much more involved than that, generating jokes ranging from clever to juvenile to bottom-of-the-barrel gross out.
Most of all, it’s about friendship and the extremes one might go to in order to keep friendships. With friends like Maya Rudolph and Melissa McCarthy, I’d say Wiig is in some good company.
Plus, even if you’re feeling a little unfulfilled at the end of the film, there’s an inspirational song to give even the forlorn a bit of hope.
Private Benjamin
Before she was known as Kate Hudson’s mom, Goldie Hawn was cracking up audiences on a consistent basis in the 1970’s and 80’s.
In this film, Hawn plays a woman from the upper crust of society who decides on a whim to enter the United States Army. Though romance and lost loves are also a main thread to this film, the plot and comedy arise from Hawn’s character and her fish-out-of-water experience in learning to become independent for the first time in her life.
Will these movies change your life? Maybe, but most likely not. That's not their goal. Providing a laugh or two on what is the loneliest day of the year for some is what these films can do. And for some, a good, hearty chuckle is more than enough to lift the soul
Then there are those of us who feel like the one thing they are missing out in life is a significant other. Valentine’s Day helps to reaffirm that belief, with an annual release of a new Nicholas Sparks movie hammering home the fact that true love is out there for everyone.
Falling into a category of feeling alone and perhaps depressed on Valentine’s Day, you decide you will barricade yourself in your apartment or house for the evening.
You’ve bought yourself a box of chocolates and bottle of wine, already knowing full well the chances are slim you won’t have any leftover wine for the following evening. If you’ve also added movie watching to your list of Valentine’s Day activities, save yourself from taking that final step in loneliness by watching the sappy love story or the tried and true romantic comedy.
Instead, take the time to watch one (or three) of these time-tested comedies to help turn that Valentine’s Day frown upside down.
Blazing Saddles
There are any number of Mel Brooks movies (or Gene Wilder movies, for that matter) that can be included on this list. From Young Frankenstein to Spaceballs, Brooks has been making audiences laugh for years.
This ultimate spoof of Westerns is the pinnacle of his achievements. Wilder is in top form, aided with great comedic performances by Madeline Kahn, Cleavon Little, and Harvey Korman. Not only are the laughs plentiful, but the social commentary within this film still resonates to this day.
Caddyshack
Bill Murray. Chevy Chase. Rodney Dangerfield. A dancing gopher. What more do you need to know?
Directed by Harold Ramis and written by Ramis and Brian Doyle-Murray, Caddyshack is centered around the eccentric members, staff, and associates of a local golf club. While technically a movie that centers around golf, one does not need to know the game of golf forward and backward to enjoy this movie. Released nearly 40 years ago, this film has the right amount of dirty and raunchy jokes to hopefully bring a smile to the lonely faces on Valentine’s Day.
The Jerk
The first starring role for Steve Martin provides the perfect opportunity to show off his many talents. Martin plays a character named Navin and any number of labels have been applied to the character over the years: idiotic, naive, simple. It doesn’t matter. It is part of the charm and comedy of this movie.
Most of all, it’s a movie about finding your rhythm. And on Valentine’s Day, if you’re alone or have a significant other, it’s all about rhythm.
Airplane!
Like Mel Brooks, Jim Abrahams and Jerry and David Zucker have been making audiences laugh for years. Airplane! also goes the spoof route and pulls off a mix of low-brow comedy, clever sight gags, and silly jokes that many modern day spoof films fail to capitalize on.
Airplane! is centered around a flight that goes awry when the pilots, much of the crew and passengers are all infected with food poisoning. There is only one man aboard that can fly the plane (Robert Hays), but he has deep personal issues that may prevent him from saving everyone aboard.
Plus, Leslie Nielsen is in the film, doing some of the best work in his career.
Old School
“Y-You’re crazy, man. You’re crazy. I like you, but you’re crazy.” Frank (Will Ferrell), Old School.
Those lines of dialogue perfectly describe the comedic values in this 2003 hit from Todd Phillips. Taglines for the film went as far as embracing this aspect, as one read, “Critics say Old School is dumb and pointless. We say, ‘WHO CARES?’”
Go forth and get a glimpse of what it would look like when three grown men start a fraternity. (Then, if you’re feeling really daring, go watch Jeremy Piven, who plays the Dean, play the opposite version of this character in PCU.)
Bridesmaids
Bridesmaids is less than five years old, but it is destined to become a classic. While Kristen Wiig’s character is in search of love as one of the through lines, the film should not be classified as a romantic comedy. The story is much more involved than that, generating jokes ranging from clever to juvenile to bottom-of-the-barrel gross out.
Most of all, it’s about friendship and the extremes one might go to in order to keep friendships. With friends like Maya Rudolph and Melissa McCarthy, I’d say Wiig is in some good company.
Plus, even if you’re feeling a little unfulfilled at the end of the film, there’s an inspirational song to give even the forlorn a bit of hope.
Private Benjamin
Before she was known as Kate Hudson’s mom, Goldie Hawn was cracking up audiences on a consistent basis in the 1970’s and 80’s.
In this film, Hawn plays a woman from the upper crust of society who decides on a whim to enter the United States Army. Though romance and lost loves are also a main thread to this film, the plot and comedy arise from Hawn’s character and her fish-out-of-water experience in learning to become independent for the first time in her life.
Will these movies change your life? Maybe, but most likely not. That's not their goal. Providing a laugh or two on what is the loneliest day of the year for some is what these films can do. And for some, a good, hearty chuckle is more than enough to lift the soul
February 6, 2016
Internet Articles and Leaving the Expletives at Home
The following can be added to my canon of "Old Man Ranting" articles. Previous rants have tackled such topics as click bait headlines and people taking the title of "President of the United States" and shortening it to the term POTUS.
Clicking on headlines on the internet can be a hazardous risk. There is so much information out there it can be hard to filter what is going to yield an interesting article and what is going to yield simply a fluff article that is traffic driven because of a click bait headline.
The internet has a great many number of writers that write thoughtful and entertaining posts and articles. To these writers, I applaud you. Thank you for your time and dedication to the craft.
The reason I'm here today, though, is to talk about an alarming trend I've noticed on many websites and the articles they post. It seems, that in order to either A.) feel hip and fresh or B) to make up for lazy writing, articles are being overwrought with expletives. I reached a breaking point on reading these sort of articles when I read this article during my morning traversing of the internet.
Before I get much further into this, let me explain that I don't mind cursing. You can talk like a sailor with the saltiest mouth of all time and it's not going to bother me.
As a playwright and novelist, I also can be generous of my use curse words. Often times they help to create the world of the play or novel, and a good curse word can also add to the flavor of a character.
The trick is this: the less they are used, the more powerful they can be.
In reading articles across various websites, I've noticed expletive filled articles seem to be gaining momentum. Over at Elite Daily, it's pretty much the norm that posts and articles will be filled with a lot of this: F***.
Okay. I get it. They at least have a bit of decency in typing well placed asterisks, even though it's pretty evident what the word is. And I've come to expect it of the more personal articles on this site. Still don't really approve of the cursing, per se (just spell out the word if you're at least going to use it), but at least there can be information and interesting articles on this website.
The problem that made me reach a tipping point today was this: the opinion piece doesn't even seem that well researched or thought out. Throw in expletives every other sentence and the piece causes me, the reader, to lose any sort of value I may have given to your opinion.
To think, I gave the site I click. I suppose that's all that matters, in most cases.
I clicked on the headline because of only a slight interest in the subject. There are millions who enjoy The Big Bang Theory immensely. Though I have seen plenty of episodes over the years, I don't love the show. Nor do I hate it and think it's the worst thing on television. I mean, it's not Two and a Half Men. (Now there's a show that shouldn't have lasted ten years, let alone five.)
Technically not a click bait headline, it was still a pretty bold claim for someone to call The Big Bang Theory one of the worst shows in the history of television. I was intrigued, figuring there would at least be some validity to back up the headline.
Instead, I was treated to a bunch of curse words that didn't enhance the article. I was treated to ideas by a writer that were seemingly based off of reading a description of the show on IMDB. Or perhaps the author of the article had only seen the first two to three seasons of the show, when in fact they are currently in their ninth.
Failing to research an article before writing it is one thing. It's the expletives that are the issue at hand. We get it, author. You don't like the show and you are fired up about it. If I was talking with you in person about the show, the cursing would be a great way to display your contempt and vile towards it. This is an article, though. There is a much better way to drive home your point without the unneeded curse words.
By the way, this was not some random website I stumbled upon. It was featured this morning on the front page of Yahoo. It is not specifically by an article written for Yahoo, but was still one of their suggested articles to read in the column below their main headlines.
Perhaps the problem is much deeper than click bait headlines. These, of course, are what make websites money. It's all about a click-through rate and all that technical stuff. Well-written articles are suffering because of it. The idea of curse words being featured so prominently in articles is disheartening. Coupled with a poorly researched and poorly executed article, matters are made even worse, leaving me with an empty feeling and sympathy for the real writers of the world trying to make a living.
Of course, maybe I'm in the minority. Maybe people don't care about curse words and don't care how well the articles are written. If that's the case, as a writer in this competitive world of the internet, I'm totally f***ed.
Clicking on headlines on the internet can be a hazardous risk. There is so much information out there it can be hard to filter what is going to yield an interesting article and what is going to yield simply a fluff article that is traffic driven because of a click bait headline.
The internet has a great many number of writers that write thoughtful and entertaining posts and articles. To these writers, I applaud you. Thank you for your time and dedication to the craft.
The reason I'm here today, though, is to talk about an alarming trend I've noticed on many websites and the articles they post. It seems, that in order to either A.) feel hip and fresh or B) to make up for lazy writing, articles are being overwrought with expletives. I reached a breaking point on reading these sort of articles when I read this article during my morning traversing of the internet.
Before I get much further into this, let me explain that I don't mind cursing. You can talk like a sailor with the saltiest mouth of all time and it's not going to bother me.
As a playwright and novelist, I also can be generous of my use curse words. Often times they help to create the world of the play or novel, and a good curse word can also add to the flavor of a character.
The trick is this: the less they are used, the more powerful they can be.
In reading articles across various websites, I've noticed expletive filled articles seem to be gaining momentum. Over at Elite Daily, it's pretty much the norm that posts and articles will be filled with a lot of this: F***.
Okay. I get it. They at least have a bit of decency in typing well placed asterisks, even though it's pretty evident what the word is. And I've come to expect it of the more personal articles on this site. Still don't really approve of the cursing, per se (just spell out the word if you're at least going to use it), but at least there can be information and interesting articles on this website.
The problem that made me reach a tipping point today was this: the opinion piece doesn't even seem that well researched or thought out. Throw in expletives every other sentence and the piece causes me, the reader, to lose any sort of value I may have given to your opinion.
To think, I gave the site I click. I suppose that's all that matters, in most cases.
I clicked on the headline because of only a slight interest in the subject. There are millions who enjoy The Big Bang Theory immensely. Though I have seen plenty of episodes over the years, I don't love the show. Nor do I hate it and think it's the worst thing on television. I mean, it's not Two and a Half Men. (Now there's a show that shouldn't have lasted ten years, let alone five.)
Technically not a click bait headline, it was still a pretty bold claim for someone to call The Big Bang Theory one of the worst shows in the history of television. I was intrigued, figuring there would at least be some validity to back up the headline.
Instead, I was treated to a bunch of curse words that didn't enhance the article. I was treated to ideas by a writer that were seemingly based off of reading a description of the show on IMDB. Or perhaps the author of the article had only seen the first two to three seasons of the show, when in fact they are currently in their ninth.
Failing to research an article before writing it is one thing. It's the expletives that are the issue at hand. We get it, author. You don't like the show and you are fired up about it. If I was talking with you in person about the show, the cursing would be a great way to display your contempt and vile towards it. This is an article, though. There is a much better way to drive home your point without the unneeded curse words.
By the way, this was not some random website I stumbled upon. It was featured this morning on the front page of Yahoo. It is not specifically by an article written for Yahoo, but was still one of their suggested articles to read in the column below their main headlines.
Perhaps the problem is much deeper than click bait headlines. These, of course, are what make websites money. It's all about a click-through rate and all that technical stuff. Well-written articles are suffering because of it. The idea of curse words being featured so prominently in articles is disheartening. Coupled with a poorly researched and poorly executed article, matters are made even worse, leaving me with an empty feeling and sympathy for the real writers of the world trying to make a living.
Of course, maybe I'm in the minority. Maybe people don't care about curse words and don't care how well the articles are written. If that's the case, as a writer in this competitive world of the internet, I'm totally f***ed.
January 27, 2016
The Cluttered Mind and Life of a Writer
photo courtesy of pixabay.comOver the years, I've often wished I could rid myself of the clutter that fills my mind. I could use that new found space to help focus on one thing instead of one hundred. If I could direct all of that clutter and focus it on one item, I'd accomplish a lot more.
Perhaps I could learn to perform basic maintenance on my own car. Maybe I could build a wine cellar. I could finally repair the flat tire on my bicycle. Most importantly, I could find the focus to finish one play or one story before jumping into the next one.
Stories have been started, stopped, and recaptured over the years. Ten pages turn into twenty, then forward momentum comes to a screeching halt. I'm off to another project, leaving behind a manuscript to collect dust for months on end.
Years of notebooks have been filled with ideas, lines of conversation and Venn diagrams. Many sit idle as they line the bookshelves in my apartment. Boxes I haven't looked through in years hold ideas and stories that are just waiting to be completed.
I hold onto these things dearly. I'll never know when that story I started when I was 20-years old will be used now that I'm 37. Valuable life experience learned during the in-between time will no doubt serve a new insight into the stories of the past.
Sometimes, with all of that clutter, it's a good idea to sit back and, in the words of Aaron Rodgers, R-E-L-A-X. Man, those "Discount Double Check" commercials were hilarious. Well, they used to be. Rodgers sure struggled at times this year. Maybe he should have spent more time practicing football than canoodling with Olivia Munn.
See what I mean. Clutter. Physical clutter and clutter of the mind are not a good mix.
A writer should have the tools of history, pop culture, culture in general, and human experience at his or her disposal. At least that's what I've been told. While these things are easily accessible via the internet, I find that much of what I pull from in my writing is harbored within my brain.
Yes, drawing off personal experience is a must when creating plays, novels, fiction, poetry, etc. How much of it is meant to be retained, though? Can memories be erased? I think about experiences, remember people's experiences, and can't seem to forget them. It probably doesn't help that many of them get incorporated into stories and when re-read, trigger those very memories.
In addition, my mind is a mixture of song lyrics, dialogue from movies, and plots to television episodes. Pop culture events litter the vast recesses of my mind. For what? To advance my knowledge of the world? For this, I do not know.
I'd like to rid my mind of clutter. I'd like to rid myself of some of these notebooks. The notebooks have taken a hit over the years, but it has been pieces of paper that have been trashed, not entire collections. There is still more valuable there to me that could be useful one day.
I will deal with this cluttered mind. Narrowing down projects to three to four at a time instead of six to seven will certainly help. This has allowed a focus to return on finishing a project before starting it and let it disappear for years. Organizing the binders, notebooks, drafts, and pieces of scrap paper have helped over the last year to make my life clutter free. The memories and experiences of my mind will remain, for they are part of the base of a story. At least I've realized that.
Now, about those pesky re-writes...
January 14, 2016
Thursday
I often post here my thoughts and such.
Sometimes, though, I take them elsewhere.
I still may get another blog post out this week, but my creative energy will probably be put to other uses this coming weekend.
Today, it has been drained. Alan Rickman passed away today. Sixty-nine years young. Reflecting on his career (for this is the one way I knew him, through his art), I realized I looked up to him as an artist in more ways than I realized. And his performances always captivated me, whether it was in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves or Dogma.
His work as Snape in the Harry Potter films was hauntingly beautiful, bringing a character that was already strong on page to vivid life on the screen.
Rickman will be missed.
As for now, I look for a bit of solitude.
"If only LIFE could be a little more tender and ART a little more robust."- Alan Rickman
Sometimes, though, I take them elsewhere.
I still may get another blog post out this week, but my creative energy will probably be put to other uses this coming weekend.
Today, it has been drained. Alan Rickman passed away today. Sixty-nine years young. Reflecting on his career (for this is the one way I knew him, through his art), I realized I looked up to him as an artist in more ways than I realized. And his performances always captivated me, whether it was in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves or Dogma.
His work as Snape in the Harry Potter films was hauntingly beautiful, bringing a character that was already strong on page to vivid life on the screen.
Rickman will be missed.
As for now, I look for a bit of solitude.
"If only LIFE could be a little more tender and ART a little more robust."- Alan Rickman
