Gloria Oliver's Blog, page 121

Picture Kaleidoscope 8/10/11

Not many pics from me this week. But some cool stuff from elsewhere to share.


For hubby's birthday, we went to our favorite hibachi restaurant,

Mind Sieve 8/8/11

I have a boatload of stuff this week. Twitter was insane! (And a few of these came from elsewhere too! Dang!)





From FanOfMovies and TotalFilm -

Hopko Designs did a 1950's poster version for Cowboys and Aliens. Pretty spiffy!



The Hollywood Reporter shows us a peek at the The Dark Knight Rises set.


Per TV Guide and Eddie McClintok, Kate Mulgrew (Captain Janeway!) will be in Warehouse 13 in a four part episode arc. That should be fun!


From Total Films -

From AJ Walker's Medeival Mondays a cool blog post on How A Corpse Can Convict Its Murderer.

Gene Lempp shares some lore of three ancient animals on Superstition, Legend and Mystery. I'd not heard of any of these guys. Great story fodder.

If you watched Eureka last week, I think you'll enjoy this look at the episode Up In The Air from Wil Wheaton's unique perspective. The things that happen behind the camera that we never see! lol.

And this was too cool not to share. From Instructables - How to make and X-Wing fighter from Office Supplies. Looks awesome too! (Come on, you know you want one!) :)








Roni Loren asks Is Your Blog Fluffy? 5 Questions to Ask. Some good points to keep in mind. (Heck, just click it to see the weird fluffy bunny at the top of the post. lol)

Kristen Lamb's Twitter Tuesday - Tweeting Others Special. (We're all one giant Twitter Tribe! Just wish I could actually read all the tweets. I can't follow any more people as it's a giant mess now. Bah humbug! ) :)

Kristen Lamb shares more thoughts on G+ Circles - Good Idea for Writers or High School Revisited. (I don't totally agree with some of her points, mostly because while I may drag people into Circles I've yet to actually post only to a Circle. I just make it all public, the same as I do on Facebook. Some of her other points about not sharing more than just writing and also about not sharing too much personal info I am totally in agreement with.)







Beating the Sugar Addiction - Tightening The Writing by Kristen Lamb.  (And a free flash fiction piece to boot!)

Efficiency 101 - The Power of No by Kait Nolan about guarding your writing time.  (They taught us this at work too! Back when I was a supervisor. So you wouldn't get overloaded. lol.)

Getting to the Core of the Character by Lisa Gail Green. (Definitely something to keep in mind!)

Chuck (NSFW) Wendig shares 25 Ways to F*** With your Characters. (That is the saddest part of our jobs. If we love the characters, we must hurt them. It's a thing...) :)

Nathan Bradford has a great post On Distractions.  (Since I don't work at writing full time, I personally try to set specific times to write - like before work and during lunch. I also subscribe to the reward/enticement system. As in, if I write for a half hour, I can read for a half hour. Carrot and the stick. Heh heh.)


Okay, if this does not give you all enough to keep you busy, I give up! lol. Happy reading!

Movie Review - Rise of the Planet of the Apes

Rise of the Planet of the Apes



Starring: James Franco, Freida Pinto, John Lithgow, Tom Felton, Brian Cox, David Oyelowo, Tyler Labine, David Hewlett, Andy Serkis, Jay Kaputo and more.


Directed by: Rupert Wyatt Based on the Novel: Planet of the Apes by Pierre Boulle Written by: Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver  Original Music by: Patrick Doyle

Premise: A possible cure for Alzheimer's works better than intended by bringing multiplied intelligence and evolution to the progeny of a test chimpanzee.

Review:  Been waiting to see how this one would go down. The previews were misleading, as the movie is a lot better than they make it seem. Now mind you, in the original Escape of the Planet of the Apes, Caesar was born of Cornelius and Zira after they'd traveled to the past in the space craft used by Colonel George Taylor. In this version, man is the one responsible for the changes in the Apes rather than a time loop.

The plot is more complex than indicated in the previews and there's several offshoots as well. You get to see Ceasar from a new born to a mature ape and you feel for him for the harsh lessons he learns and the choices he makes.

The CGI for all the apes was phenomenal. It is even more so when you realize actors and actresses are in there as well, guiding the expressions and feelings translated into the ape visages. And great use of those expressions.

That lovely famous line from Charlton Heston "Get your hands off me, you dirty stinking ape" (Or something close. I always fail at quote games!) is used in a reverse manner in this film, which was just too delicious. Lots of tiny bits of homage seeded here and there and especially towards the end.

Make note when they mention the manned Mars expedition. Neatly tying it back to the original Planet of the Apes films.

Many surprises for me in the cast. John Lithgow does some awesome non-comedic work in the film. And I was shocked and so pleased to see David Hewlett (Rodney!) as the bad tempered neighbor. Last but not least was the presence of Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy) doing what he does best.

Only towards the very end when things get in full swing are mistakes made. I think some items were lost to the editing room floor. There's a bit of a romance suggested for Caesar, but when he finds her again, we don't get to see it. They also show many canisters of the virus being made, and you assume the apes took more, but you never see that. The apes also multiply a little out of hand. And as my hubby pointed out, ape behavior and the lack of possible canisters (as cut or not shot) made the second group of acquired apes not necessarily feasible to join the fight.

Another bit, obviously done purely for the drama of it, yet doesn't work on the believability scale was all the jumping through outside corporate building glass. That stuff is normally two sheets and very hard to break. But it did look cool!

The added twist and what really messes up things shows at the end and is partially incorporated into the beginning of the credits. So just when you think it's done, it's not. (Major discussions broke out in the car about loopholes or was the contagion in the breath or blood, so be prepared. lol)

Overall though, it was a great film. Not for young kids as it does cover some major adult themes about animal experimentation and abuse.

Rating: 4 out of 5 (Hubby's rating: Worth Full Price of Admission.)

Picture Kaleidoscope 8/3/11

Serenity in Your FACE! Heh heh. She is HUGE! Helping me convalesce.  Look at those eyes. She uses them quite effectively to guilt us around or try to make us feel sorry for her. She's so cute.


Did I mention she's HUGE! And I don't think she's done growing yet. (Need to take pics of the cats so they don't feel left out. Heh heh)


Not the prettiest album cover, but it is the first CD I ever bought and still one of my top favorites. Got it before I even had a CD player! I'd misplaced a stack of CD's years ago and ran across them the other day. I was so HAPPY! Some of them I can't replace. (Hojo Tsukasa Rules! The anime has never quite lived up to the art of the manga.)



Texas welcoming me back to work! This is also the sunrise on 2011 31st consecutive 100+ degree weather. The record is held by 1980 for 42 straight days. 2011 is now in second. Will it replace the 1980 record?  (I hope NOT!!!!)

Mind Sieve 8/1/11

Been recuperating all week, so haven't done much, but let's see what I can dig up. :)






Hmmm, well, I did just finish Rosemary Clemment-Moore's latest book called Texas Gothic. Loads of fun! Magic, ghosts, TEXAS!  Booyah! What more could you want? :P



And for anyone interested, Rob Thurman (another awesome author) is doing a big shindig for the release of Basilisk this very week! (Bromance to the MAX, ya'll!)



Hah! Not sure where to put this one. Chuck (NSFW) Wendig has a post on Turning Writers Into MotherF**** Rock Stars. Very tongue-in-cheek. Kids, do NOT try this at home! lol (He's so crazy!)







Kristen Lamb gives us 10 Tips for Blogging Awesomeness! Great things to keep in mind for blogs!









Janice Hardy did an interesting post on Write What They Don't Know: Manipulating Your Readers for Better Plots.  While she makes several good points, this is the kind of thing you need to be careful on. While a mature author can pull it off, someone still beginning could get into a lot of trouble with this. Just something to keep in mind. (And make sure to keep track of them as you use them too!)

Testing the Idea - Is It Strong Enough to Make a Novel from Kristen Lamb. Good points and sources to look at to boot.

Larry from StoryFix.com gives us a list of 5 Creative Flaws That Will Expose Your Lack of Story Telling Experience. These are DEAD ON, guys!

From Chuck (NSFW) Wendig - 25 Ways To Become A Better Writer. WORD!


Looks like this is going to be it for this week. I should be back to normal *fingerscrossed* by next time, so more bombardment is imminent. :)

Please feel free to share any superb stuff you've come across in the comments, or discussions on any of these bits. PARTY![image error]

Name the Bear, Win Stuff!

Zumaya Publications, LLC Contest!

From Elizabeth Burton - 

Twenty-odd years ago, my mom bought me a little white wizard bear at an after-Christmas sale. When I joined Zumaya Publications, he/she became our unofficial mascot.

Now, we're going to make the bear our OFFICIAL mascot, but he/she needs a name. So, for the next month, until ArmadilloCon 33 in August here in Austin, send us your suggestions for what to name the bear. If your name is chosen, we'll send you a new Kindle loaded with Zumaya ebooks and some other cool swag or a terrific computer attache full of signed Zumaya paperbacks—your choice. We'll give prizes to the nine runners-up, too.

Send your suggestion to zumayaebooks@gmail.com; please include your address with your entry. Entries will be judged by a panel of Zumaya authors and the winner announced on August 28th. You may enter as often as you like, but you must be 13 years old or more to enter. Sorry–legal stuff. And Zumaya authors and their immediate families will have to forego the fun, too. I'll make it up to y'all, I swear.

Let the contest begin!



Little fellow needs a name. Won't you help?[image error]

Movie Review - Cowboys and Aliens

Cowboys and Aliens



Starring: Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford, Olivia Wilde, Abigail Spencer, Clancy Brown, Paul Dano, Adam Beach, Sam Rockwell, Keith Carradine, Raoul Trejillo, Walton Goggins, and more...

Directed by: Jon Favreau Writing Credits: Robert Orci, Alex Kurtzman, Damon Lindelof, Mark Fergus, Hawk Ostby, Steve Oedekerk Original Music by: Harry Gregson-Williams

Premise: In 1873 an amnesiac in the Arizona Territory, searches for his identity and past even as he finds himself in the middle of an alien conspiracy. Made more puzzling by the fact he's the only one with a weapon that seems capable of harming the intruders.

Review: I'd been waiting for this one for a long time. A lot of people think the premise sounds insane, but I wanted to see what they did with it. Being backed by Spieldberg, I knew it could be done. I wasn't wrong.

The movie begins and moves along where you might expect. But once things get rolling, the unexpected starts making an appearance, taking several items in directions you wouldn't have guessed, and ratcheting the enjoyment factor.

The vistas in the film are truly breathtaking - the arid plains, the colorful skies. Now throw in some flying ships, explosions, and some good old fashioned western stuff, and voila!  Loads of great visuals.

Great cast, with great performances. Cool CGI. Things about the aliens, the whys and wherefores, come out a bit at a time and they make sense. As the end nears we get to see more and more of the visitors.

Several subplots/character complications run concurrently with the mission at hand, some needed, some not, yet still satisfying in their own way. There are even several comedic moments. You might even get a flashback to the Poseidon Adventure - heh heh - you'll know it when you see it.

Overall, nothing too brainy or complicated, but a heap of gun totting, alien butt kicking fun!  

Rating: 4 out of 5 (Hubby's Rating: Worth Full Price of Admission)

Picture Kaleidoscope 7/27/11

Have some of my own and some other cool ones I ran across that I thought I'd share. Food for your eyes!



I know I keep saying this, but man, Texas skies can be so varied! V for Victory!


I found a new sushi place (okay, my daughter found a new sushi place) in Frisco called Sushi Envy.  Rather than just a sushi bar, they work on the sushi conveyor belt system. I'd eaten at one of these in Japan, so thought it was great we got one here. Sushi was marvelous!


You can see one of the chefs in the background. The dishes in front are the moving sushi plates. This is the main menu.


Secondary menu for drinks. Some cool drink names like  Bloody Ninja. Heh.


 Wind did not cooperate on this one. Where I work, they change the plants seasonally. Thought these was too cute. Kind of work in a surreal way like this. heh



Cool statue/metal work at Medical City in Dallas. Been around forever. I hadn't been to this hospital in ages.


Ah, yes, the latest in Tres Chic neck wear (reason I was at Medical City) - gauze, tape, and stitches. You saw it here first folks! :P

Now for some pics I ran across to share with you!

From Jerry Davis - Too Cute For Mere Words.  She's so CUTE!!!!!!

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NASA's Image of the Day - Through The Astronaut's Eyes.


ParkerXL shared a link to where they show of some Beautiful Black and White Photography. Check it out! Some of these are totally amazing. Here's a taste.






Nancy Cavanaugh has been going photo crazy and has set up free picture ebooks on all sorts of subjects - from turtles, to flowers, to butterflies and more! Here's one of the covers:

That plumage is gorgeous!



Toby W Neal shared a filtered pic for his cloud of the day.


This was very cool! The First Portrait Picture Ever Made. And he'd pretty nice looking too! Self portrait even!

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That's it for this week.  If you have pics you'd like to share, put them in the comments section! I likes to look at the pretties. :)

Mind Sieve 7/25/11

This may be a sparse edition. What with all the chaos last week at work, thyroid operation, recovery, etc, etc, etc.  But let's see how far I get.






Gene Lempp shared this link to the Chicago Sun Times and an article called CT Scans Unravel Mysteries of Field Museum Mummies. This is without taking them out of their sarcophagi so their preservation is not endangered. Make sure to check the attached gallery to the article. Several repeats but some cool photos as well.

John Carter of Mars preview!  YES!



I still have the vision of the Martians from the old time Edgar Rice Burrough's covers, so these guys look a little emaciated to me. lol. But with the lower gravity, it also makes sense. Looking forward to this one!

From the Peeps who made Chicken Run and Wallace and Gromit – Pirates! YES! Looks too funny.



From FansOfMovies came a link for the Batman: Dark Knight Rises trailer. Sweet! With an article at the Holywood Reporter.









21 Google + Circles You Can Actually Use from Happy Place. Yes, very tongue in cheek, but quite funny too. Heh. Scarily, some of these will probably get used. lol

Tony Eldrige shared 6 Promotional Item Ideas for Your Book. I do some of these, others, I am probably not looking in the right places because I've not found them for cheap. Some of you may have better luck. And the M&M site? What fun!!!!  Uploaded a couple of covers and they look so cool! Haven't decided if I will buy though. Heh heh. But So COOL!

Pam Moore does a real nice breakdown on what is a Tweet Chat in Tweet Chat 101.  Very in depth and eye opening.

Debbie Ohi gives her take on Google + and what she's hoping to accomplish with it. (She's got a MG/YA project for authors/illustrators/etc going on it already!)





Ack!  Ran out of time! (Normally these buggers get set up on Thursday nights for Monday. I lost several nights here this past week and there's other things to do. Urk!) Will flood you next week with more Mind Sieve Madness!


Have an awesome week!  And feel free to suggest great blogs you've come across or other fun things for anyone who comes by here to see. I can't catch everything. :P

Movie Review - Captain America (YES!)

(Uhm, yeah, I was bad. I went to the movies today. I was feeling good enough after being released from the hospital. Went early so no crowds. Now relaxing, resting at home. I am! Really! I need to get super well!)






Starring: Chris Evans, Hayley Atwell, Sebastian Stan, Tommy Lee Jones, Hugo Weaving, Dominic Cooper, Richard Armitage, Stanley Tucci, Toby Jones, Neal McDonough, and more

Directed by: Joe Johnston Screen Play by: Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely Based on the Comic Books by: Joe Simon and Jack Kirby Original Music by: Alan Silvestri

Review:  This movie was so much fun! Thoroughly enjoyed it. A nice current day teaser for the beginning and then we go back to the 1940s for the Captain's origin and more.

Loved, loved, loved several things about the film. One was several nicely sneaked in items that tie the movie to the Iron Man and Thor films, coalescing the movie universe of the three - the World Expo, Howard Stark, the origin of where Stark got the idea of the energy project which he abandoned but yet became so important to Tony Stark's survival and future, and even a tie in to the gods, which connects to Thor. Nicely done!  And you're not hit over the head with any of it. It's there to catch if you can, otherwise it is just part of the Captain's story.  Kudos!

The second thing I loved was that though Steven Rogers is successful as the experiment (as expected), due to things that happen, he's not actually used for anything! He ends up going on a totally different direction to help America during the war, a none fighting direction. I loved this! He had to go out there and do what there was to do, and eventually when an opportunity does arise, he lives to the truth of himself and shows what he can truly do as a one man army.

The acting from everyone involved was excellent. Even a bit shown in the previews takes a whole other tone when see in context. Lovely! You'll see a ton of familiar faces. Great work from everyone.

Great special effects, tons of explosions, shoot outs, and best of all, flying shield action! Oh yeah! And Red Skull, woohoo! And Hydra has such cool toys!  Red Skull's personal car is like a German Batmobile. Hee hee. Loved it! It was great seeing the characters from the early Captain America comics as well as the original uniform. And of course, the Stan Lee cameo. What Marvel movie would be right without one? Heh.

A fun, fast moving, great film! Make sure to sit through the credits!!!!  There's a preview to the Avengers movie at the very end to wet our appetites for the summer of 2012!

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (Hubby's Rating - Would Pay Full Price of Admission Again!)