Buying your first car! It's an adventure to say the least.

 

My children are growing up, despite my very stern demands to the contrary. Well, fine. I can't say I am at all prepared to give advice for buying vehicles. My experiences over the years are a sequence of questionable decisions, followed by hopeful wishes, and finally pure grace. I'm not a mechanic--not even close--so I frequently drive it and think, "Well, it starts, drives, and stops; must be good." I know a few things, and am good about asking questions. Still, it's easy to be solely concerned about cost.

 

Well, now I'm back to the beginning. Things have changed a lot since my early days. It's not a simple matter of taking a possible purchase to your mechanic and getting a checkup on it. Sales staff don't leaving the vehicles unattended (for insurance reasons, I understand). I realize a first car isn't likely to last a long time, since cars with high mileage aren't rock solid to start with. Still, we all desire something to last a long time. I don't even want to think about repairs.

 

But, this is a new learning period for my children. They are stepping out, into unknown territory, and they want a little bit of assurance. It's only natural. I pray I can provide true wisdom, hope, and support. Life is opening up for them. Now, my job is encouragement. I think of it less like an eagle shoving their children out of the nest (so they fly), and more like teaching them to ride a bicycle (running alongside as they pedal and wobble). They'll be okay, with maybe a few bumps and scrapes along the way to keep them honest. It's all for the best.

 

- M

Hanging shelves ... I think this activity belongs in Dante's "Inferno."

My body keeps me humble, especially since I'm actually quite strong. But, my knees and my back won't take much strain. Sigh. So, it was with a bit of trepidation that I took on the duty of putting up shelving (the sort where there's a board with brackets, not a kit which free-stands). My youngest daughter helped, as it was for her room anyway, and she was fantastic! We levelled the board, then marked where the screws should go. I drilled holes in the board and set the brackets first, then we went to work on the wall. Everything was perfect, with three studs exactly spaced to match the boards ... what luck!

Yeah, like this but with brackets holding it up--rather than magic.

Somewhere along the line, it was like hearing a boxing announcer saying, "Boom, baby!" Yup, one screw hole was off. Hey, it happens to the best of us, right? Okay, so drill it again. Whoops, the screw skipped into the old hole. Eh, it'll be hidden behind the bracket, yes? Well, now the wall is bent. Huh? How did that happen? Was it always bent inward? Wait, just that spot? Did I do that? Why did we put the shelf there then? Oh, good grief. Um, ah, well, there'll be a gap at the back of that particular shelf. Don't worry about it, honey. It'll be hidden, right?

 

So ... we put up one shelf. The next will go up tomorrow. Hey, perfection takes time and a clear mind. Tomorrow is a new day, and I'm sure the wall will behave at that point. Maybe it's just having a bad day and needs a good long nap? So, I did the brave and honorable thing and let the wall sleep it off. I'm sure tomorrow it will stop fiddling with me and be good. After all, walls have feeling too, don't they?

 

- M

How many ideas fit on the head of a pin?

So, the normal philosophical question is, "How many angels fit on the head of a pin?" But, I'd like to turn that to ideas. Think about it. Can you stop ideas from forming right on top of each other? Back when I was in Junior high (7th grade, or thereabouts), a history teacher challenged our whole class. He held up a small cylinder with a lid (a 35mm film case, if you know what those are). Anyway, he wanted us to come up with ideas of how this item could be used. He gave five minutes and let us go to it. Most people came up with perhaps a half dozen ideas. I couldn't write fast enough, but I think I had around 30 or so. Our teacher said the same challenge was posed to a famous science fiction writer, who came up with over 100 ideas. True or not, that simple challenge has guided me throughout my life.

35mm film canisters, sadly no longer anywhere. They were perfectly sized to hold quarters!

What's the takeaway from this challenge? Well, I hope it's that we shouldn't halt at just a few new ideas. Stretch. Go for everything your mind can conceive. We are gifted with imagination, and the will to use it. Why settle for a handful of good ideas, when we can have barrels full of concepts that we comb through later to find the really great gems of imagination! In short, don't limit yourself. If you'll let fly with everything you have inside of you, you'll be pleasantly surprised to find wonderful things.

 

As a writer, I get asked many times where I find my inspiration. Well, just keep your eyes and mind open and you're bound to find inspiration wherever you are. Really, it's not hard. The biggest part is taking that inspiration and doing something with it. After all, the best of ideas remain mere ideas until they are used. Put into action, even the worst ideas can become wonderful--think about oysters and who thought they'd be good to eat, or cooking rubber and making tires, or saving voices by making a needle wiggle on wax cylinders. Ideas are a dime a dozen, but action is where real magic happens.

 

So, how many ideas did you come up with for a small cylinder with a lid?...

 

- M

Moon shots, and amazing spectacles.

This morning my wife and I saw a huge orange moon gliding down past the buildings up ahead. It was a magical sight. I dearly wish we could have captured it on video. The Moon looks incredibly big when it's down low like that (a neat optical illusion, look it up). But, I shared it with the love of my life, and that was memory enough. We live our lives for moments like that, times we can think back on with smiles and warmth. Those memories are diamonds strung out behind us, always there to enjoy when we want to see a bit of beauty.

 

We find times like these throughout our lives, but how often do we really take the time to enjoy them? It seems like we are always too busy, or too preoccupied, or in too much of a hurry. The phrase, "Smell the roses," is much more than taking a moment or enjoying a scent. When you turn away from the normal clutter and admire something beautiful, you enrich your life beyond comprehension. It's like a part of its beauty pours into your soul.

 

One thing I'm saving for is a fine telescope. I want to see the stars up close. There are sights so amazing, such as clouds of fiery gas, blooms of distant lights, and the absolute infinite dark abyss. How can we have such wonders around us and not enjoy them? Why do we look past them, never seeing, and never understanding?

 

Take the time to smell the roses...

 

- M

Maps and GPS

Back in the days when dirt was new, children learned to navigate using map and compass. Parents would go on extensive hikes for the joy of discovering nature at its finest. What ever happened to that? Well, besides city folks having little idea what a compass is, there's just not much interest anymore. Of course, there is the fun of Geocaching--where you use GPS to find certain hiding places with little trinkets. But, it's a lot like playing a videogame where a mini-map is always available. But, at least you get out and hike around to find the little boxes where the treasured trinkets are found.

image credit

I've taught my kids how to read maps, and am actually surprised how rare that skill now is. Pull out an actual paper map of a city, give it to someone, and ask them to find a certain street intersection. It's incredible how few people can actually complete the task (if you're one who can, then let me give you a high five!). I realize it's totally easy to get out your cellphone and pull up your exact location in seconds, but what if your phone is gonzo and you have to actually work it out yourself?

 

I think skills which do not rely on electronics are more important now than ever before. We shouldn't rely on modern convenience so much that we forget how to operate without them. It's probably safe to say very few people in industrial societies could feed themselves with basic tools (no, I'm not talking a credit card in the supermarket). I've always wanted to learn how to make fire without a lighter.

 

What about you? Are there any skills you wish you had? Well, what are you waiting for? Go do it!

 

- M

Games, Computer Games, and the stories they tell

 

I've played computer games pretty much since the invention of the personal computer. I've seen tons of changes over the years, but one thing that hasn't changed is that most games tell a story. Sure, the story may not be all that significant, or deep, but it's there. My first favorite was "Zork" by Infocom Games (you can play it online for free in a variety of places). It had no graphics at all, simply textual, and relied heavily on puzzles. These days it would make no impact, because there's hardly any gameplay whatsoever (if you use a walkthrough, you likely could finish it entirely in under an hour). But, that wasn't the point. There actually is a pretty deep story involved, but it's the journey you make puzzling it all out that creates the intrigue. Many games at the time survived only on the story they told--the gameplay was always secondary.

 

Now there are massively expensive games being created where the story is told during cutscenes (essentially mini-movies) and through items you pick up--like letters--that dump exposition. I love the "StarCraft" series, and have enjoyed watching gameplay videos, because there is a significant story to tell throughout. Gameplay has become the priority. The question reviewers love to answer is: "How many hours of gameplay are there?" The bigger the number, the better the game. Many of the new games have very little replayability, because you know the story, you know the sequences, and what point is there in doing it again? It's a very tough situation. I've replayed "Zork" many times, but I find it's the nostalgia that keeps me going back.

 

What do I mean by bringing all this up? Well, I'm saying that story is still important to games. It always will be. But, there is a secondary story that goes in parallel with the one in game. That is the story of the player, and it's different every time. When we play games, we build memories, create connections with people we may not even know (especially in multi-player games), and thereby fashion new experiences each time. Like the old saying goes: Life is a journey. Well, it's true for games too. Enjoy the journey. Take the trip, and forge a story between you and the game. Let it lead where it may. And, most of all, enjoy yourself.

 

- M

Memory and imagination

By Mehdinom (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)%5D, via Wikimedia Commons

Sometimes I like to sit and dig through my memories. I often find myself rewriting certain ones, because I didn't like how it happened the first time. But, then I go back again and undo it all to the way it truly was. While it's tempting to create fanciful memories, I don't think it's wise to fiddle with reality. But, that doesn't prevent me from imagining how things could have been, or what I'd do in different situations. Actually, it's a neat mental exercise to do precisely that.

 

I view imagination as one of the most highly prized of all mental faculties. It's sadly lacking in most adults, and charmingly prevalent in children. As kids, we imagined our futures, and could cast our minds far out and pretend anything could happen. Like many children, I wanted to be an astronaut (in fact, I still dream of going into space). I've imagined what it must be like to be weightless, far away from the comforts of Earth, and drifting through infinity. A fun dream was going on a spacewalk, with the Earth past my feet and the stars at my fingertips. I can picture it now--

 

Anyway, it got me thinking about how we reshape our own memories. Most people mainly remember the good times, and forget the bad. But, sometimes we also change those memories so the reality doesn't hurt quite so much. That's a very tender subject, and I'll leave it alone. What I'm getting at, is we use our imaginations in far more ways than just playing pretend as children. As adults, we use it in business decisions, preparing for relationships, and even figuring out what to cook next. It's the ability to see possibilities, and sense the good and bad in them. What an amazing faculty!

 

- M

Sleep. It's an ever hungry shark, lying in wait until you're at the most vulnerable.

Have you ever been to the point where if you blink, you'll groggily open your eyes hours later, wondering what just happened? Times like that aren't sleep--at least not in the sense that you feel refreshed. It's like being knocked out. There's blackness and then a spinning room. Nothing in between. At least when I'm ready to let sleep overtake me I can rest and recover. When sleep ambushes you, there's nothing good to it.

 

Which bring me to why do we even fight against sleep? Sure, there are times it's not convenient to drop off (work springs to mind), but what about at home? Is that movie so incredibly important that you're willing to trade away hours of solid sleep? I'm not sure what age group is the most sinful in this matter, but I suspect it's not kids. Whatever the reason, we stubbornly stay awake and go on checking the newest Twitter posts, or the intricacies of the Rhinoceros hornbill bird (that sucker just isn't right, take a look for yourself). The inevitable result is our final stumbling to bed and an abbreviated sleep, leaving us grouchy and bleary eyed until we get some coffee down our throats.

 

Doctors have consistently told us we need at least eight hours of sleep to be fully refreshed. It's healthy, and our bodies demand it. Yet, we rush around all day, then find ourselves rushing sleep. I've scratched my head over this for years, and I still don't have a good answer as to why we do it. I'm guilty of it, so is my wife, and my kids. Maybe it's some ancient imperative that we grind as much as possible during wakefulness, but I have a sneaking suspicion it has nothing to do with work. I mean, can finding new ways of tying knots be all that vitally important? Probably not, but I discovered this amazing new one--

 

- M

A Rhinoceros hornbill

The making of a hero. Origin stories.

Hero origin stories are told in a few ways: following right from the start, flashbacks, catching the last of the most important parts, and simply referred to in dialogue or commentary. The question the author must answer is, does the audience need to know? Does the audience need to see everything? What are the important parts of the origin, and what can be safely left out? The much maligned Star Wars prequels (Episodes 1-3) got me thinking a lot about this, because you can make a very strong case that Darth Vader didn't even need an origin story. Sometimes it's best to leave things in the dark, unknown and pulling mysterious strings.

 

For the audience, origin stories explain where the hero came from, what motivates them, and what fears they may have. Batman's origin story is likely the best known (possibly because it's the most believable) and explains all of those things. Usually the hero is the main character, so an origin story can be very helpful to the audience. On the other hand, it's nice just to step into a story already underway and learn little things all through, so the audience is more likely to pay attention than when it's thrown out in one shot.

 

For the author, origin stories are a time to create the suite of emotions needed to make the hero into the character desired. It's incredible how powerful emotions become when attached to a specific event in the formation of the hero. So, the question is, do you want the audience to know this all in advance or as things require explanation? Audiences do like mysteriousness, and it's fun putting together the pieces of why a hero is who they are (so long as it's not impossible). Whatever the choice, make sure your audience isn't left behind. If an origin story is needed, make absolutely sure you don't do it halfway.

 

- M

Food. What is it about food?

Why do we spend so much time, effort, and especially money, on food? Yes, taste rules supreme, but style and visual appeal also is expensive. French food is renown for being skimpy on quantity yet sensational to look at and savored. Food of that level is carefully prepared from the very best of materials, and using the very best culinary technicians. It's art you can eat. Still, why do we put so much effort into a basic body necessity? It's curious, don't you think?

 

I have a very limited sense of smell, and I've learned that much of the flavor of things is due to smell. Despite that issue, I still greatly enjoy food--a little too much actually. I only imagine what it must be like to fully savor exquisite French cuisine. And what if smells were entirely gone, would we still like food as much? I'm guessing yes.

 

Another thing funny to me is how foods don't change all that much. Sure, there are new combinations, but a steak is a steak now and was a steak centuries ago. I doubt salads will ever go away. And, what about candies? Chocolates? Those are an entire class of purely indulgent gastronomic marvels. We'll have soup forever, and breads, and everything else. Science fiction stories of the past had us thinking we'd be eating food cubes by this point. I am so very glad food never devolved. Happy eating.

 

- M

Picking on the little guy

It's probably fair to say that one aspect of being civilized is being stronger, yet allowing the weaker to survive and flourish. In a sense, it goes against nature where only the strongest survive. What do I mean by that? Well, as any parent will tell you, bullies are a sad aspect of life. And what do we tell our children? Bullies are the cruel ones. No one should attack a weaker one. Fight to protect the innocent, the weak, the picked on. And, never back down to a bully. They are the cowards, the pitiful, the shamed. I find this remarkable, and happily applaud anyone willing to do the right thing.

 

Life is tough. People can be cruel. Circumstances are heartless. But, even in the midst of trials and tribulations, we can find the valiant among us who will lift us up and give all the aid they can muster. Sure, we find bullies throughout our lives (I wish it was restricted to childhood), but we also find brave knights and heroes. Yes, indeed, there are real, true, superheroes out there. Wouldn't it be a better world if we all did a bit of rescuing now and then?

 

St. George slaying the dragon.

All that said, it's tough being picked on. It makes you feel small, insignificant, humiliated. Worse of all, you feel it's all somehow your fault. No. Absolutely no. You were a target of opportunity, nothing more. I used to think getting revenge was the ultimate victory, but I was wrong. Living on and forgetting is the sweetest revenge. Bullies want to be feared, and if you steal that away they have no lasting power over you. In the end, you win.

 

- M

"Batman v Superman" movie review (no spoilers at all)

It's a funny thing about big event movies. People go into them with all kinds of expectations, then are nearly always disappointed. The trick is to let yourself fall into the story from the start and let the story lead the way. If the story is good, it will eventually explain itself. The other point is to remember that action movies will have lots of barely connected action. All that said, "Batman v Superman" is an action comic movie. I liked it for what it is, but it doesn't explain itself all that well.

 

The early parts of the movie do a great job of setting up the central conflict, which is, "Is Superman dangerous?" We see Batman come into being as part of an answer to the question, and there's a lot of effort spent building it up. Those things work well, and I loved seeing Batman doing detective things and being awesome. The previews for the movie showed part of a neat Batman fight in a warehouse, and I think it's one of the best movie fights in recent memory. But, the question of Superman remains without answer. I think the movie wanted to explain, but then we get a load of other characters and there isn't time.

 

As I explained in a previous post, when superheroes fight each other, they don't really want to cause lasting harm and certainly not death. Yes, they fight and it's fun. There's a big fight against a monster, and it's fun. Sadly, the question of Superman is not resolved. What I found especially amusing was how in the previous movie "Man of Steel" the big complaint was the massive destruction, and they just went for it again! Granted, they take pains to explain there's no innocents around, but still we see major disasters.

 

"Batman v Superman" is a popcorn action movie. Don't think too hard and you'll enjoy it. The visuals are amazing, the actors ham it up like crazy, and the soundtrack is great. But, if you think too much, you'll end up with more questions then answers (the dream sequences certainly don't help).

 

Yes, I do recommend seeing "Batman v Superman." Enjoy it for what it is. If you know the comics, you'll understand it better, but I don't think the movie really wants understanding. It's mindless fun. Enjoy it.

 

- M