The trouble with powerful characters ...

A significant issue with giving characters extraordinary abilities/powers is they always grow over time. Comic books have this issue big time, and it's now pretty common for the comic book universe to undergo some sort of crisis which rewrites history and everyone's powers. The television show, Dragonball (pick your flavor of it), is particularly noteworthy, because our hero Goku is so mind numbingly powerful that he now must fight universe destroying creatures just to have a real challenge. Long running book series also run into this, as do video games.

Goku (Dragonball Z) charging up to a more powerful state

The temptation is to make heroes stronger, so they win, yet conflict comes from the possibility of losing, so the villains need to be stronger too. It's called power creep. And, it's incredibly seductive. Is it bad? Not necessarily, but it does make life difficult when creating conflict. In Star Wars, would Luke Skywalker be challenged by Darth Vader if his future self fought the same battle from Episode V? Yes, absolutely, because their powers are simply more refined and not boosted. But, if he was powered up beyond Darth Vader, you'd need a new villain to maintain tension. It's a delicate balancing act.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has mostly avoided this trouble by having villains who aren't super powerful (which will change the moment they put Thanos into play). The side effect is Marvel villains are joked about as being dull and boring. That's the trouble and why it's such a struggle to keep things interesting. But, audiences also love having heroes become more powerful, and then fighting even more powerful bad guys, and on and on and on. Anime does this cycle constantly and it clearly works. Either way, consider the consequences.

- M

Tribute to a great man, a great father, a great father-in-law

Norm Porter

The father of my wife passed into glory last week. Gratefully, we were able to see him in the hospital a few days prior, and my wife spent the night at his side. Memories are now all we have, yet his legacy remains in our children and in the lessons and examples he provided. What makes a man great? Glorious victory, or magnificent honor, or clamoring fans, or mighty achievements? No. A man is great by his character, his heart, and his virtue. Norm possessed all three in equal abundance.

He was a quiet man, who smiled plenty and always gave a kind word. Love for his family radiated from him. His calm and reserved manner hid a deep sense of humor and powerful feelings. I'll never forget when it was the day before I married his daughter, when he took me aside and said, "Now, we haven't discussed the dowry..." I choked out some reply, and then a huge smile overtook his face and he laughed. I'll never forget it. Norm Porter was indeed a great man.

Life is a journey, a road we all take, with but one destination. In the end, we leave behind a legacy. Norm's legacy is his children, grandchildren, friends, and a powerful faith which sustained him and his wife throughout. He is a role model to be cherished, emulated, and remembered. I loved him and regarded him as a personal hero. His passing has made this world a poorer place, and enriched Heaven even more. God bless you, Norm Porter.

- M

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving!

When we take the time to count our blessings, it's truly amazing how profound they are. Do you take the time throughout the years, or just on this one day? It's good practice to stop and remember, before we complain and rage. We are so very blessed. Remember, and give thanks.

- M

ps. And, enjoy all the turkey sandwiches the rest of the week and next ...

I'm getting a headache ... no problem, here's a carrot.

Why does an apple a day keep the doctor away? How does eating carrots make your eyes better? Does drinking water upside down really cure hiccups? Where did all these silly traditions come from? And, why do we persist in believing them? For me, it's all in good fun. Wherever the idea of carrots for eyes came from, it sure didn't work in my case. Yes, I know vitamins are important, but my eyesight is horrid and no vitamins will cure that. But, it's fun to joke about eating carrots.

There are plenty of wild and wacky medical inventions created throughout the years. I enjoy searching for devices from the 1800's especially, because some seem at the outset like possibly good ideas ... and then you see the device and wonder just what particular plant they were smoking when they came up with the idea? I wonder how many sold? I suppose they did great business, because there sure were lots of insane inventions on the market. You never know, maybe they even did some good.

Based on this history, I'm betting we'll always have ridiculous ideas (I remember the grapefruit diet, among others). People are keen to find new and revolutionary methods to improve health, despite no evidence whatsoever. Also, there's plenty who will believe anything so long as it's advertised in an attractive way--watch any state fair steak knives sales pitch and you'll agree. Ideas are quick, easy, sometimes work, sometimes don't. But, without ideas, we go stagnant ... so, keep up with the apples and carrots, just don't expect it to work all the time.

- M

The journey is the best reward.

Have you ever found a new book and immediately gone to the end to see how it turns out? I've done it sometimes, were I'll read the final sentence and then enjoy how the book manages to get to that point. I know people who will read the last chapter and then decide if they want to buy the book. I've never understood spoiling the ending. The joy of a good story is the journey you undertake, the situations faced, and the choices made. Knowing the ending dampens the enjoyment of the ongoing struggles of the journey.

Stories mirror life in powerful and significant ways. We often seek out stories dealing with issues we currently struggle with, such as: death, love, poverty, success, tragedy, hope, and on and on and on. True stories are a bit different, because the end is usually known beforehand, but with fiction why deny yourself the joys of taking the journey? There's much we learn about ourselves in the pages of books, far beyond the content of the story itself. But, if you skip to the end, you miss out on all those rewards.

Hearing stories is a powerful method of passing on the wisdom of ages, and providing experiences in an engaging way. The audience willingly participates in undertaking these unknown journeys, with the hopes of entertainment and possibly much more. It's an awesome thing. I encourage everyone to pick up a book today, let the journey fill you, and stick it out to the glorious ending. Only then will the final pages have the cumulative impact they deserve.

- M

Movie review: Spiderman: Homecoming

Spiderman: Homecoming

Since this movie has been out quite a while, I won't worry much about revealing plot details, so ...

*Spoiler Warning*

Okay, so let me begin by saying I loved this movie. It's fun, it maintained my attention, and especially it captured the joy of being a youthful, naïve, and starry-eyed superhero. Also, the villain truly challenged and threatened the hero. It worked well as a self-contained comedic story.

This Spiderman is really trying to do right, to make his way in the world, and is desperate to prove himself. He helps old ladies with directions, stops a bike robbery, and leaves goofy notes (something I did when I was a kid too). He is a 15 year old super-powered boy, and acts like it. However, he is also wanting to be a part of the Avengers, so he pushes too hard and that gets him into trouble--and easily provides the conflicts for the story.

Regarding the villain, The Vulture, he is easily my favorite villain in the new Marvel movies. This is a regular guy, with a flying winged suit. And, yet, he is easily capable of destroying Spiderman whenever he wants, and he makes it very clear he has absolutely no issue with doing so. Also, the villain has his own peculiar moral code, which prevents him from releasing his knowledge of who Spiderman actually is. Because of all this, the Vulture is terrifying and real. When the big reveal of Spiderman's love interest actually being the daughter of the Vulture happens, the air is rife with tension and we understand exactly why Peter Parker is forced to break so many of his promises. Then, when the Vulture directly threatens Peter, we are horrified and truly worried for him and anyone he cares about.

The biggest point I'd like to make is how Peter Parker is walking the same path seen in Iron Man 3 (a very under-rated movie), where Tony Stark learned he is still a superhero even without his fancy armor. Now, Spiderman has never relied on fancy gadgets--until Tony built a spiffy suit for him--and then it's taken from him. He is forced to grow and mature, to use his natural abilities, and not rely on toys. Because of this, Spiderman has a clear personal arc, and ends the movie miles beyond where he started. He is a full superhero at the finish, without question in his own mind or anyone else's. That's fantastic! Incidentally, Marvel has since done the exact same thing with Thor in Thor: Ragnarok.

Yes, Spiderman makes plenty of mistakes in his journey, but he ends up making the right choices. We are witness to his maturing, his defeats, and his victory. That's a great story.

I highly recommend Spiderman: Homecoming. Get it and enjoy it!

- M

Castles and romance, a match made in Heaven.

Castles are often depicted, in pictures and stories, as having a fair maiden charming knights from on top of the walls--or needing rescuing from a tall tower. They are depicted as places of endless romance, chivalry, and epic battles. Sure, the realities are not nearly as exciting or fun, but let's forget those things for now. In popular culture, castles represent a time of heroes, knights, fair maidens, honor, challenge, triumph and villains.

I've grown up around actual castles, and have walked through them, so I love them almost as much as I do mountains. They are towering structures, imposing in their strength, and marvelous in their engineering. Actually, it's pretty incredible that many are still standing, considering they were built hundreds of years ago. I would love to vacation in one, to experience how the walls absorb history and the atmosphere you can only experience in person. There's inherent greatness in castles to match their huge walls.

Marienburg Castle, Germany

Why does our culture romanticize the times of castles so much? Well, because it was long ago, these structures are imposing, knights are interesting, and things seem simple compared with today. But, I think it's mostly because we yearn for times of honor, truthfulness, dignity, and solace. So, we project these ideas onto a time long ago and not well understood. Then, we fill the concept with stories and imagery reinforcing those ideas. It becomes a safe retreat from reality, a little paradise of its own, and a wellspring of romance.

- M

Tribute to our Veterans.

Happy Veterans Day!

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We enjoy a wealth of freedoms in our nation, and we must always remember that those freedoms have come at a high price. Too often are our veterans forgotten, then to be trotted out during a single day of celebration during the year. Many have died, been maimed, lost families and friends, carry emotional scars, and will never fully recover. I think it's important to remember our military throughout the year, as they are the ones fighting for us, not seeking reward, and simply want our respect and acceptance.

It's good to have a specific day of remembrance. It's important. It's vital. Yet, continue to teach those who don't understand, the importance of our military. Military life is hard, and then the return to civilian life is often more difficult. Also, it's not only the soldier who has it tough, because their families are in the same position. Pray for them. Laugh with them. Cry with them. But, most of all, remember them.

- M

Movie review: Thor Ragnarok [no spoilers]

Thor: Ragnarok is the third Thor movie. It's a bit of a departure from the seriousness of many Marvel movies, because this film definitely doesn't take itself too seriously. The theme is the Norse mythology of Ragnarok, or the destruction of Asgard and subsequent rebirth. This theme is carried out in many places, but particularly in regard to Thor and the Hulk. The noteworthy villain is Hela, goddess of death, and clearly enjoys munching the scenery and being as evil as possible. Despite these weighty themes, the movie never gets bogged down with itself.

What really shines is the banter between Thor and Hulk. These two have impressive chemistry, and their comedic timing is spot on. The new characters don't feel forced, have instant personality, and are welcome additions to the cast. I especially appreciated the backstory flashback moment with Valkyrie--a wonderful Loki moment that was perfectly done. The story does range pretty broadly, so it isn't as tight as could be, but it's fun so why complain?

Also, the visuals are absolutely stunning. It's honestly difficult, if not impossible, to determine what's live and what's computer generated in most scenes. Believing these worlds exist is all the easier, because your eyes aren't telling you differently all the time. It's a real marvel how realistic these films have become. I found myself completely inserted into the world of Thor, and loving every minute of it.

Thor: Ragnarok is a fantastic movie for superhero fans. Go see it!

- M

Living another person's life...

An incredible aspect of stories is how audiences are given the opportunity to live another person's life through the tale. It's pretty incredible when you think about it. What I find particularly noteworthy is how we aren't limited by time, place, gender, or species. I've loved being a rabbit, dragon, spaceman, alien, and many different historical figures. How else can we enjoy such travels? It's incredible.

Beyond the escapism of being someone else, don't forget the teaching aspects. We learn a lot by watching other people's lives, even if it's only a story. I'm not talking about directly instructing the listener, but showing the actions and consequences. Let life speak for itself, and hopefully we'll pick up the important things about it.

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Finally, when we experience another viewpoint, the entire world shifts under the new eyes. We broaden our perspectives, learn new cultures, and grow new appreciation for the universe we inhabit. I think it's one of the most important aspects of stories, and the biggest reason why they remain important everywhere in the world. In a sense, stories are the breath of life.

- M

Have a cookie, you'll feel a lot better.

Do you have a favorite treat that makes you feel all warm and loved? For me, it's cookies fresh from the oven and still hot. Sit me down with chocolate-chip cookies, pour a glass of milk, and I'll be a puddle of joy for the next half hour. Am I reliving my childhood? No, not really. What it actually reminds me of is a secure home, happy childhood, and wonderful family. Tastes and smells are powerful memory stimulators, also, food is a way of forming bonds and relationships.



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I think we enjoy giving loved ones something special, with the intent of making them feel how special they are to us. There's a cherished glory about these times--events which are beyond counting in importance. It's in these times when we demonstrate our best humanity. We give, without thought of reward or accolade. We offer something of ourselves, and the recipient becomes full of new life. If there is any magic in our world, this is where it lies. Giving, and expecting no return, is miraculous and we should encourage it as often as we think of it.

But, there's something really special about cookies. The word is fun to say, the ingredients are as varied as there are ideas, and they are so very good to eat! Plus, if you get them warm and soft, they simply melt in your mouth. Send them as gifts, treats, or bribes. Cookies are amazingly versatile. Oh, and I've heard that if you drink milk along with cookies, then they are calorie-free ...

- M

ps. Okay, I admit cookies aren't calorie-free, but it's a fun thing to say anyway.