Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, impressively telling the beginning.

A new Planet of the Apes story is starting this July! I am extremely excited. I loved the previous Rise of the Planet of the Apes, and now the extension of that story (apparently 10 years later), is Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. There is a thriving ape colony in the forest we saw at the end of the first movie, and Caesar is straining to keep things under control between apes and the surviving population of humans (following the Simian flu devastation).

What I really enjoy about all this, is there is a realness to it all that I missed in the original series of movies. Back then it all seemed rather silly, contrived, and overwhelmingly goofy. Sure, it had a great zinger at the end of the movie, with the Statue of Liberty being buried and the realization (much like the Soylent Green movie). Back then, science fiction loved to do such things. Now, though, audiences are demanding more intelligence and consequences. We want to see one thing cause another, and follow the progression.

This new mythology of the apes is convincing. I can imagine the next steps, and smile as they happen. Sure, that means there is a certain inevitability about it all (we know where it leads), but that doesn't matter to me. I want to witness it happen. And these new movies are filling a desire I didn't know I had.

I can't wait to see the new movie, and eagerly anticipate what I guess will be a roaring finale in a couple of years. I love witnessing history in the making, and we are watching it now as the Planet of the Apes story is reworked with care and aplomb. I'm rooting for Caesar, despite myself. He's a great character!

- M

A ticking clock... that horrendous countdown... incoming disaster in 5...4...3...

For a long time, it was a joke that movies always ended their countdowns at "1".  In fact, the great movie, "Galaxy Quest" makes this a key point (and it works perfectly). But, the idea of a disaster approaching within a specific timeframe is potent and keeps an audience primed for action. There's an expectation of growing conflict as the deadline looms nearer. And that's great news for storytellers. It's pure gold.

Sure, the idea can be taken too far. Anything can. Still, impending doom is dynamic, something easily understood, and puts danger right on top of the heroes with palpable force. We all know what it's like to face a countdown (though rarely as challenging as most fictional ones), and so the crisis is quickly explained. And that allows the real action to get going without getting bogged down by specifics and all sorts of background.

--Oh no! The hero is strapped to a railroad track and the train is coming!--

Easy. Quick. Now, show me how they survive, or what happens, just relieve the tension as that horrendous train steams closer and closer. I want to know what happens next! Tell me NOW! I'm on the edge of my seat...

Ticking clocks. I love them!

- M

Cosplay. Grown-up dress-up.

The SyFy channel has introduced me to the competitive world of Cosplay (which is dressing up like popular characters, and is absolutely ginormous in Japan) through their show "Heroes of Cosplay". I'll admit I've known about this type of costuming for a while, but had no idea it was such a feature of the various geek gatherings around the country. I'm a nerd--proud of it indeed--and absolutely would love to get to one of these shows. However, I just can't see myself dressing up, though my wife could easily get me to do it if she fancied playing along...

I'm amazed at the skill, time, and passion that goes into these costumes. These people are very dedicated, and go to tremendous lengths to make it everything as correct as possible. There's a world of possibilities, and the varieties that show up are incredible. I love to see that geek culture is an expansion industry. I've never hidden my love of fiction, or my nerdiness, and am a proud member of geekdom myself. Hmm, maybe I could be a good Captain Marvel afterall... Shazam!

Anyway, I enjoy seeing how the characters of story become center stage attractions. People really dig into their favorites and bring them to life. I'm sure there are still plenty of Harry Potters running around conventions, or schoolyards for that matter. It's hard to measure such things, but I think books are more popular than ever. Along with that, I think people are craving escapist stories to a greater degree than I've seen before. This is a great time to be alive!

- M

Nature's beauty, and our desire to bear witness

Our planet has a mind boggling variety of terrain, countless forms of life, and we want to see it all. Curiosity certainly isn't the sole domain of humans, but I don't see cats getting scuba gear together to check out reefs. I'm proud of our ability to recognize and seek out the beauty of our world. I think it's one of our most admirable qualities.

I've been blessed to have seen many places around the world, and I would love to see much more. Until then, the Internet has provided us with images from wherever mankind has travelled. Our drive to see more and more of our world doesn't seem to end, and I'll bet it never will. Because of this we have discovered features that boggle the mind, like Angel Falls, Mount Everest, or the Mariana Trench. I have lots of pictures that I use as backgrounds on my computer, because the beauty of nature is tough to beat.

What more is there to see? Certainly there is all of space to explore, but I think the greatest places to visit are underwater. Seriously. We know so very little about what's under the surface. Radar has mapped most of the Earth, but just in broad strokes. We still don't understand what is down there (for the most part) and are relying on best guesses a lot of the time. I can imagine all kinds of incredible things, but reality always trumps my imagination. After all, who could have possibly imagined that life can exist around underwater hot spots--basically they are vents for deep crust lava, and little critters thrive near them.

Nature... check it out!

- M

Arguments, and good 'ole fashioned bickering

I've come to realize in life that disagreeing with someone isn't a bad thing. A lot of good can come from arguing, where people voice their differences and air out their feelings. Of course, good coming from it depends on the arguing parties being mature and adult about it. The truth is, we all can't possibly agree on everything all the time. Arguing is natural, and healthy. But, the way we argue matters a great deal. The old saying goes something like: "Argue as enemies, but part as friends."

Stories are about conflict, whatever the source may be. Actually, it's probably safe to say that all our lives are about conflicts of one form or another. It's inevitable, I suppose. Watching as your favorite characters deal with conflict is nearly as much fun as going to a water park and sliding down the Ultimate Drop of Doom waterslide. It reveals the characters within the story even better than them sitting down and having an intense soul searching period of extrapolation and monologue.

Lessons are tough, generally nasty little events, that either break us or make us better. It's probably the father in me that writes this, though I'm sure my own father said the same to me many times. Still, it's good to know that just because we argue with each other doesn't make us bad people. I believe it's healthy, at least when it's done with respect. In the end, conflict reveals character, whether it be in a story or in real life.

- M

Magic tricks, little mind twisters, and having fun in general

Something which never fails to astound me is how people respond to simple magic tricks (especially the slight-of-hand ones that happen right under your nose). I think it's a childlike quality in all of us that responds to such trickery. We naturally want to be bewildered, for something to happen that we can't explain, and to be surprised. I think that's really the base reason why magicians don't explain their tricks--it ruins the marvelous illusion.

In the same way, puzzles that stretch and twist your mind are fun. There are a class of puzzles, called "lateral thinking puzzles," which typically can't be solved without thinking in unusual ways. Such as this classic: "A man jumps from a plane, without a parachute, yet survives. How?" Normally the answer is given as, "The plane is on the ground, not flying, so the man only jumped down to the ground, a distance of a few feet." Such puzzles challenge the assumptions you make without being told, and illuminate how your mind attempts answers. It's good to move past those assumptions. In the example I gave, the answer isn't the only one... there might be a dozen more, it's up to you to discover them.

I love having fun, especially when it takes me out of current situations and jiggles shiny marvels in my face. Movies, books, music, and so on are escapist fantasy to me. Fun is a very personal idea, though we all understand it. Considering all the occupations in our world that are completely based on people having fun, I know that it's something we all want and need. But, you also have to open yourself to it, and let the fun flow. So, get to it!

- M

Maleficent, another villain churned into anti-hero status

The new movie, "Maleficent," is finally out. Disney's most iconic villain has her own show to waltz around in. However, sadly, she has been turned into another angst laden anti-hero. I'm sorry to see it. Villains are an important factor in stories, as they provide the context for heroes to be heroic. Finding memorable villains is as much fun as finding tremendous heroes.

Without getting into spoilers, Maleficent starts off as a good fairy and transforms into a reluctant villain, while still being the moral center of the story. I admit it doesn't make much sense to me, but I'm guessing they wanted to make the story a bit like the highly successful Broadway musical "Wicked" (which tells the story of the Wicked Witch of the West, and how she came to be wicked). I wish Disney hadn't done this. They had the opportunity of making "Maleficent" an even more iconic villain, but now she isn't a villain or a hero. She's an anti-hero, doing bad things for good reasons.

Anti-heroes do work out (a great example is Batman) but they are difficult to justify. Batman has had many re-imaginings and re-workings because it's hard to stomach the main character stepping over the line time and again. It takes a great deal of work to produce a movie, and I certainly am not saying the movie is bad--only that I regret the choice of turning her in a sympathetic figure who we understand and empathize with her hard life. Perhaps it's because this waters down the character, and I miss the gruff and frightening villain she used to be. I want to fear villains, in the same way I want to cheer on the heroes. Why change it?

- M

Dad, my hero and my father

My father is the greatest hero in my life. He is an example to follow, a wise teacher, and loves me more than I could ever deserve. He has always been there for me, despite being in another state, and I'm sure it wouldn't matter if he were on the Moon. Most of all, he taught me how to be a man.

It's difficult to express the greatness of my father, especially someone as humble and wise as he is. The best I can do is say, "Thanks, dad." How can I say how much I admire him? How many words would it take to say how greatly I respect him? If I had all the days of the universe to explain how much he means to me, it wouldn't be enough.

He's my hero.

Being a father myself, I'm painfully aware of how inadequate I am. The greatest comfort I have is that my hero raised me, trained me, and guided me throughout my life. Hopefully my children will have many more years to enjoy being around my hero, my dad.

Happy Father's Day, dad. I love you.

- M

Thunderstorms and the beautiful sounds of rain

My wife loves the sounds of rain. In fact, she has an app on her Kindle Fire that plays the sounds of a thunderstorm (or many other options, with quite a lot of variety) so she can go to sleep with the clash and bang of a thunderstorm at her command. It's neat what modern technology has done. I remember when stores sold CDs with the sounds of the rainforest, or Rocky Mountain moonlight, and all sorts of "soundscapes." Funny how successful those are.

I've always been fascinated by thunderstorms. I remember growing up in Austria, sitting on our back porch, and drawing the lightning strokes--and they were curious streaks of lightning, because I remember the usual thin lines being interrupted by balls at some junctions. Sure, the thunder scared me, but I learned how and what caused them and so I overcame my fears. Life is a lot like that... you're scared about everything, until understanding pushes your fears aside and you move along.

On one of our road trips, we saw a nighttime thunderstorm that could have jumped right from the pages of any epic story. It truly was Biblical. I'll never forget that light show, and the jaw-dropping wonder of it all. The beauty of such things is impossible to adequately describe, but there have been thousands of pages dedicated to the task anyway. I'm glad that simple things still create wonder, and I hope I never become so jaded that I ignore them.

- M

Leadership, particularly the curious qualities that surround them

Isn't it strange how some people can enter a room and immediately the entire room watches their every move? It's like leaders are surrounded with some sort of bubble that constantly draws attention to them. I've decided that this quality isn't always natural, but that it can be learned and used specifically. Sure, it's hardly groundbreaking information. Leaders are made, as well as born.

Even solitary writers can be leaders, and by working on leadership qualities it comes across through the stories they create. The extra effort makes things more realistic. Don't get me wrong though, I'm no expert and I'm certainly not a three star general. I only know that within the boundaries of storytelling that leadership shouldn't be faked.

The best example I've seen in a book is "Icefire." In it there's a general who behaves like a general should, and his leadership is rock solid. I've read the book a dozen times--and it's a whopper of a story--but I love the insight it provides into how generals work. I imagine the authors spent a lot of time researching generals and how the military functions. It would be such a treat to meet such remarkable people.

Leaders are special, but not unique. We all have within us the ability to lead others. I think learning leadership also helps us throughout our lives; to be less passive, to take charge, and to go after those things we desire most. Leaders make things happen, it's what they live for.

- M

Lightsabers, death rays, and other neato weapons

Unique weapons are hallmarks of great fiction, or at least they make things interesting. Lightsabers are my personal favorite, mainly because I adore swords and the lightsaber is a science fictiony medieval sword--and it's just pure awesomeness on a stick. Also, naming the weapons (like calling the hero's pistol, "Lil' Darlin'") creates a curious connection that makes the weapon more memorable. After all, many people name their cars, so why not their weapons?

Another aspect of fictional weapons is the variety they produce. My guess is that, in the real world, weapons tend to grow smaller and more powerful. I'm surprised that there isn't more fiction dealing with nano technology, simply because that is certainly the direction military science is going. Imagine pointing your finger and having a nano-tech weapon form itself around your digit... or simply fire a laser right out of your fingernail. Fantasy tends to use magic, though it doesn't have to... as the famous saying from Arthur C. Clark goes, "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.")

Weapons are important to societies, as defense and offense. I suppose it could even be said that a societies' weapons define that society. I'm still waiting for those death rays that I saw in the old cartoons and Flash Gordon serials (well, maybe lasers are the same thing, but they don't quite have the same style.) In fiction those unique weapons certainly have an impact on the audience. Another Star Wars weapon that I love is the Death Star--a ridiculous weapon that is the size of a small moon and can obliterate entire planets in one shot.

- M

I believe I can fly... why not shoot for the stars?

You can have a lot of fun with little platitudes like, "I believe I can fly," or "if you shoot for the stars and miss, you'll still land on the moon." There's some truth in them, sure, but they're mostly motivational tickles to inspire and hopefully get things moving. We all need a good kick in the pants now and again, but we also need a soft shoulder to cry on as well. My guess is we use these platitudes to do both, though what success they generate is up for grabs.

Our culture is filled with stories regarding these sayings, and the stories are well received for the most part. I think we have a fundamental need to see the best in our situations, regardless of what the truth may be around us. Sure, I'm an optimist and naturally lean that direction, but I can't believe I'm alone in that. Encouraging sayings also bring different perspectives; anyone stuck in a rut of same thinking can use a good dose of perspective.

Motivational posters are pretty big business too, and have spawned all sorts of quotable quotes and quips. I get a crazy sort of pleasure from the cynically twisted ones, particularly the ninja cat ones. I love laughing at the crazy and silly things people come up with. We are a goofy species, we human beings.

Have a glorious day, and remember... watch out for Ninja Cats!

- M

Unexpected moments of pure delight

There are a series of videos on YouTube about "People are Awesome" that are incredible to watch. Nearly all of them will cause you to grin from ear to ear as you watch the amazing skills on display. Saying unbelievable is an understatement on many of the things shown. But, the most interesting thing about these is that many of the quick clips are people doing these things for their own amusement--only the friends filming are witnesses. I love to see how we human beings can pull off such monumental feats of skill. The funny thing is that if we saw these sorts of things in a movie, then we'd think these feats impossible or somehow camera trickery.

Another thing that tickles me is when we open ourselves to noticing the curious things that happen every day. Like watching birds fly against a strong wind, seeing them flap and flap and flap but never go forward. I've seen clouds waltz across the sky, holding hands until they formed a heart... I'll never forget that one. Allowing yourself to notice is the key. Otherwise, you'll miss the moment where a squirrel gets into a spoiling pumpkin and gets drunk on fermented pumpkin juice.

I think the best moments in life are unexpected treasures. We aren't prepared for them, or even aware they are coming, but these moments are cherished. I love how, in our current times, we can put together videos and stick them on the internet for everyone to see these unique moments in life. Our world is a fantastic place, and we need to see more of it.

- M