This is a huge HUGE issue that people probably do not usually think about. Educate yourself. And DO SOMETHING.
Honestly something great about Boston is the Phantom Gourmet: they have awesome events, funny commercials, and a show with a quality that rivals Diners, Drive-Thrus, and Dives and several other shows on FoodNetwork.
Boston
So check out the annual Food Festival in Boston, and watch their show weekends 11am-12pm on CBS 4. It's just hours of watching the best looking ice cream, desserts, seafood, appetizers, burgers, bbq, and sandwiches you've EVER SEEN dance before your eyes.
My puppy Moose was in an accident and hurt his foot. He needs your help so that he can have surgery that will allow him to walk and play for the rest of his life. Please make a contribution--even a small amount can cover parts of the surgery--at paypal.com, giving to sophiebesl@gmail.com. Our whole family will appreciate it so much!
PS: Moose actually sits like that! haha
You can help other animals in Boston by visiting www.mspca.org. www.walkforanimals.com
Read one story by Denis Johnson. Please. Today.
One of the most astute observations of life I've read:
"It's easy to talk abou the furture being so good and all, because it never comes, dear."
- Johnson, Angels, p. 71
LIKE SERIOUSLY--what are we thinking? What are we waiting for? Do we really believe anything's going to get better? If it does, that will just be your daily life again, and you'll have to appreciate it for what it is (the present). We never are like ah ha, we've reached the future now! IT NEVER COMES.
Writing take-away:
What's something that everyone knows, believes, and understands? Now how can you say in a specific, colloquial or true-to-your-character way? Very powerful.
** post coming soon **
Do Not Disturb
Fringe
The Mentalist
Kath & Kim
Old show, new season:
Sarah Conner Chronicles
** post coming soon **
review
“You
will hardly know who I am or what I mean,
But I shall be good health to you
nevertheless,
And filter and fiber your blood.
Failing to fetch me at first keep encouraged
Missing me one place
search another
I stop somewhere waiting for you.”
- W. Whitman
Isn't that the question with every med you take? Well regardless the answer, five minutes ago I was eyes closed-head down on the desk ready to crawl over to my manager and ask for the rest of the day off. Now I am not only alert but I'm capably doing work and writing this at the same time. And I wasn't just tired. I had a cold/allergies bringing me down. Last time I had this delicious beverage, I could only drink 1/4 of a can to keep me going the entire day. Let's see if it still has the same potency. It certainly doesn't have the same price: down from $4.00 a can to $2.87.
Also, a life lesson: when you feel awful, try eating something (you probably haven't in awhile) and drinking water or a lots of water-containing beverage.
If there's one thing that American society seems to be trying to convince us of, it's that strangers are scary!!!!! The movie The Strangers (2008) is a pure unbridled (i.e. plotless) example of the "don't talk to strangers" mentality. There are a couple paradigms of "involved with a stranger" movie plots. Since every plot the same, either 'character goes on a journey' or 'stranger comes to town,' these are pretty sick takes on 'stranger comes to town.'
- Character (innocent, shouldn't be involved) becomes involved with strangers through a misconception.*
ex/ North by Northwest (1959)
- Character (seemingly innocent but actually connected) becomes involved with strangers through a misconception. Twist on the first.
ex/ Lucky Number Slevin (2006), Fight Club (1999)
- Character (innocent) becomes involved with strangers through a seemingly innocent but actually connected family member, spouse, etc.
ex/ Charade (1963)
- Character (innocent) becomes involved with strangers through a family member, spouse, etc. who shouldn't be connected but got mixed up with the wrong people.
ex/ Wait Until Dark (1968), Panic Room (2002)
- Character becomes overhears strangers' plans** through a misconception, then the strangers actually are connected to the character.
ex/ Sorry, Wrong Number (1948)
- Character (quickly not innocent) overhears strangers' plans, becomes involved, and runs with it.
ex/ Deception (2008), While You Were Sleeping (1995)
* Can be an accident, coincidence, or misunderstanding of any sort.
** Can be anything from a murder to just what they're doing the next day.
As you can see from the example films, these usually fall under more than one of these type of stranger-involvement plotlines.
Writing Fiction
What makes these plots work? (They definitely do, look at the high ratings on RottenTomatoes.com- links above)
What the reader/viewer is actually looking for is a character who is not a complete victim. That is why the twist where the innocent bystander is actually involved always works, and also during these films, the character should have the choice or opportunity to no longer be involved with these strangers, and yet they continue to meddle, fight, or stay involved.
Note: This is why The Strangers (2008) fails. The characters are 100% victim, there's no great motivation for the strangers' initiating their invovlement ("Because you were home"), and no one ever has or creates a chance for the characters to choose a different ending.
My company really cares about me!
Relevant career advice: having a fun and supportive work environment is exceedingly helpful for, you know, getting out of bed and going there every day!
<3 pipettes read more
on Pull Shapes