Goofy laws... why can't I take a bath with my horse?

Indiana law: Cannot keep a horse in a bathtub

Every state has them. Probably every city has them. I'm talking about laws that make absolutely no sense at all. Usually such laws are remnants of ages gone by, but they are still technically in effect and haven't gone away. In my own state it is illegal to take a bite from another person's hamburger. But, then it is a hamburger and that's right up there with invading my house!

 

Then there are laws that make absolutely no sense at all, such as an Illinois laws stating it is illegal to speak English. Why it's a law I can't even imagine. California is always fun, especially with movies like one law that requires a pediatrician's approval before even filming a child under 1 month old. Or how about needing a lifeguard's permission to toss a Frisbee on the beach? My favorite is that sunshine is a guarantee in California... glad they made it a law, because if the sun doesn't shine we can sue it!

 

I'd love to drive in Virginia, where it is a law that you must honk your horn when passing other cars. Fun stuff. Or how about Hawaii, where it's illegal to put coins in your ears. Not sure about that one, but there must have been some strange reason to make that law. Florida has an interesting one in that all public building doors must open outwards (I suppose it makes them all uniform at least).

 

I think we can all laugh at the silliness of people. I'm sure all these laws were written with true reasons and great severity. People believed in them. But, it doesn't stop them from being crazy and silly. People never fail to amuse me.

 

- M

Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster, and any other cryptozoology you can think of.

Mysteries surround us in the actual real world, especially if you want to find them and are willing to believe in them. It's sort of like Peter Pan, where if you believe in fairies they will live. Clap, clap, clap. Sure, I'll believe. Why not? It certainly doesn't harm anything to keep an open mind about such things. What I find really interesting is examining the ideas and concepts that the true believers bring out. It reminds me of oral ghost stories, or tall tales.

 

When mysteries are big enough, grand enough, or bombastic enough, they take on a life of their own and keep going even when they shouldn't. That's why I'd bet everyone recognizes immediately the picture I've shown. Sure, it's the Loch Ness Monster. The myth is so huge now that the whole world knows it. Stories are like that.

 

I'm sure every writer desires to craft a world that people enjoy so much that the fiction creates new life beyond itself. In a modern sense we all watched it happen with the Harry Potter stories. Despite my studies of the phenomenon I really am no closer to understanding the why's or how's. I'd love to know a recipe of how to create a worldwide myth. Maybe it's on YouTube, or a TED talk. Probably it's a case of great timing combined with a great story and twisted together with the whimsy of fate. Who knows?

 

I wonder if we'll ever get a definitive answer regarding the myths of Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster? One can hope.

 

- M

Babylon 5. I long for more serious science fiction shows.

One thing I've loved is ongoing science fiction shows. First it was Star Trek and the reborn Star Trek, and then Babylon 5. I've enjoyed the Outer Limits and The Twilight Zone. Then there was Eureka and Warehouse 13. Sure, things are always changing, but I miss the concept shows where a great overarching story was done over the course of years. Doctor Who is the only show currently that I know about where this is attempted (though in small part really, since there's only a small connection throughout the season).

 

I think I understand the reason for it, since audience attention spans are short and people want to enter a show at any point during the season. Episodic shows fulfill that desire--pick a conflict, work it out, and resolve it all in one show. But, I think history has shown that audiences do respond to shows with years long plots, which is probably why some shows do have strings that meander throughout the episodes. I'd love to see more of that though.

 

What I really want is another science fiction show that takes itself seriously, not jokingly or ridiculously (like Eureka) and tackles current issues using the science fiction framework. There's lots to talk about: racism, social class, honesty, politics, business, pick whatever you like. Using fiction to discuss tricky current issues is a great way to put ideas out there, even make positive change. I'd like to see more of that discussion.

 

- M

Years gone by; why do we cherish the past so often?

As I age it's becoming clear to me that we love to think about the past as better than anything else in the present. I suppose it's because most tend to remember only the good things and forget the bad. Or, perhaps it's because we don't like the changes we see. Or, because we long for the simpler times when we were young and didn't have all the stresses of adult life. Perhaps it's all of that.

 

I think this quality of life is the reason we enjoy fiction so much. It's great to escape into a fantasy that's thrilling and full of adventure. I know that's why I like it so much. I'm a technology super-nerd, but I find that I relish sitting alone with a book far more than playing the next realistically rendered action adventure video game. Maybe it's because I'm spending most of my free time writing, and I'm sure that's a big part, but I also think it's due to the pervasive noise of "things" going on all the time. I'm reminded of a short story by Ray Bradbury called "The Murderer." In it the main character has destroyed his electronics so he can have peace and quiet, yet this is considered so abnormal that he is locked up. It's a great story and certainly applies to our modern days even more than it did when it was written.

 

Main, I think we love looking back and remembering what we've done and the joys we've experienced. Sure, it's easy to remember fondly what we've already enjoyed. The difficulty is looking to the future with the same starry-eyed wonder and making it come true. I encourage everyone to have the same curiosity as children, and the same expectations of greatness as a new mother for her children. We need that optimism now more than ever. Build something greater than you remember. It's worthwhile don't you think?

 

- M

Survivor's tales

I've been studying documentaries about natural disasters recently, and one thing that is very striking is a very understandable guilt the survivors have. Many express desires to make their lives matter in a big enough way to honor those who didn't make it. Others are dismayed by their survival while others died. We humans have a tough time dealing with surviving, or at least many do. But, despite all this, what I saw in the survivors was a singular expression of gratitude.

When I was younger, I read the Reader's Digest all the time. My favorite section was "Drama in Real Life." The stories were impressive, but they were told in such a way as to really demonstrate the inner thoughts of the people living them. I'd say that most of them were riveting and taught me a tremendous amount about how to pace real stories. And, the knowledge that the events were real (possibly exaggerated, but real nonetheless) granted a sense of power to the stories I've not seen anywhere else.

I think survivor's tales offer valuable insight into how people respond in extraordinary situations. There's greatness in all of us, and these tales demonstrate it. Whatever the outcome, people who survive tremendous tragedy come out changed. and never forget it. By sharing their stories it offers a coping mechanism, but also gives direct personal historical accounts. That's valuable for everyone. I pray survivors are comforted and find their sorrows healed.

- M

Film review: The Hobbit, Battle of the Five Armies

Last weekend we all packed into the van and went and saw the newest Hobbit movie. We enjoyed it. I've read a lot of reviews about it, and most say the story is stretched thin. But, what were they expecting? After all, this is a movie about a very significant battle in Middle Earth history and the movie doesn't shy away from it in the slightest. We get a great war, very relatable characters, and a terrific moral lesson in the effects of unfettered greed.

 

I love the Hobbit book. I've read it a dozen times or more (same goes for the Lord of the Rings trilogy). To me it is a fun adventure story with a likable hero who grows from a shy farmer into a stout adventurer who bandies with wizards and slays evildoers. It's great stuff. The movies take much more under its wings (in particular the return of Sauron and how that goes on), and tells more about what Gandalf was up to when he wasn't with Bilbo.

 

Smaug the Terrible

Some of the things I particularly enjoyed were the great number of times when the dialogue is taken verbatim from the book. Also, I loved the portrayal of the elf queen Galadriel. She is a mighty power, and this movie demonstrates that in an especially visual way. I won't spoil anything, but I will say it is impressive. Smaug of course is a fantastic dragon and will win awards for imagery and voice (he's definitely the best ever depicted in a movie). And the way the treasure troves of Erabor are shown makes us imagine just how enormous the whole horde must be, because it seems to go on forever.

 

I definitely recommend the movie. It dovetails neatly into the Lord of the Rings movies (and I sure can't fault the director that desire). These Hobbit movies are fun, the story easy to understand, and will see a lot of sales all around the world. I'm glad we have them now. I doubt epic fantasy will reach this high again for a long time, but if it does I'll certainly be there to see it.

 

- M

Flying... in giant metal tubes

There are few modern things as undeniably wonderful as flying. Sure, we use giant metal machine to accomplish it, but the reality is we fly in the air faster than birds ever imagined. The feeling of lifting off the ground and soaring through the sky is indescribable. It's one of the highlights of my year anytime I get to do it. One of my dreams is to get my private flying license and get to do that all the time. That and parachuting. It's one of those things.

The thrill of flying is so deeply ingrained in our race that we won't stop until we populate the stars. We've already gone to the Moon, and plans are to go to Mars. Does anyone doubt that it won't stop until we have gone literally everywhere? And why not? We climb mountains because they exist, go to the deepest oceans because we can. So, of course we'll fly throughout space.

I doubt my dream of going to space will ever be realized, but I would like to go underwater. That's much more likely. And, going underwater has as many risks as space travel, since the environment is every bit as hostile as a vacuum. But, it's not the danger that I want to experience. It's being in another world. I love new experiences, and the worlds underwater are incredible. Flying is one I know, and love each time, but I always want to reach for something new. That's what makes life so special. New things. New replacing the old.

Live life to the fullest. Every day.

- M