Monday Morning Meaningful

Usually we hear the end of the speech. Check out the whole thing.





A little historical trivia: "At the end of the speech, King departed from his prepared text for a partly improvised peroration on the theme of "I have a dream", possibly prompted by Mahalia Jackson's cry, 'Tell them about the dream, Martin!'."

He sure took that one to heart.

Have a great Martin Luther King Day, everybody.

I Bet You Still Know the Lyrics

For some Monday morning cute.





How happy does this make me? So happy.

Kitten video

Note to self: must get remote control mouse for cat.

Sour Puss

Hehehe.

Ideas From the Future

Wall-E knows it's Friday. Listen to him!

Chris Grabenstein Attacks 12 Year-Olds

Okay, that's the US Weekly title of this post. But it's not too far from the truth. Author Chris Grabenstein (of both adult books and now children's books) doesn't like negative reviews--even if they come from a 12 year-old writing on her mom's blog.

Here's Nona's review of Grabenstein's The Crossroads.

"THE CROSSROADS is about a boy named Zack Jennings. He’s mother is dead and his father is remarrying. They move to his grandfather’s hometown. This is where the drama begins, because Clint Eberhart has a vendetta against the Jennings family. James Jennings, Zack’s grandfather, accidently killed Clint’s son.

Clint caused an auto accident involving a bus that also killed Zack’s grandfather. Now Clint is ghost and he’s still seeking revenge. Now he’s after Zack.

I found the book a bit confusing and too slow at times."

She gave it three stars--not bad, not great. She didn't tear him apart or anything. She just never really got into the book.

You'd think this review would do nothing in the long run, but somehow Grabenstein found it. And he did not react well. At. All. Here's his reply:

"Sorry you didn't like my book. Most critics have LOVED it. You can check out my web site for some terrifically honest reviews."

So only terrific reviews are the honest ones? So Bride Wars is really a good movie, it's just been trampled by dishonest reviewers?

"In fact, BOOKLIST, in its starred review, called it a "rip-roaring ghost story." And readers love it too. Here's what Riley, age 12, wrote to me: "Chris's book was great! Tell him it was amazing! Wonderful! And another great word that is more than spectacular! It was really scary too!""

Great. Some people like it. Wow. Some people like almost everything. Some people like peanut butter, some don't. Some people like classical music, some don't. Not everyone has to like everything, even if it's great. For example, I just don't get Hemingway. He's never spoken to me on an emotional level. My mom loves him. Does that mean one of us doesn't have taste? No. It just means we like different things about different books.

"Also, it was just optioned to be made into a Hollywood movie! So, I hope your readers will check out some of the other opinions before making up their minds about reading The Crossroads!"

Hollywood is so discerning! If they make it into a movie, it must be good!

I think Grabenstein's response to a 12 year-old girl is one of the least professional things I've ever seen in the children's/YA lit world. It's entirely self-centered and deluded. Also, it shows that he can't take any kind of criticism and doesn't understand that everyone's a different kind of reader. What is he going to do, go to Amazon and write to everyone who posts a negative review? (And Nona's wasn't even that bad!)

At least he apologized later on:

"I in no way meant to insult your daughter. But sometimes, it seems, our actions have unintended consequences. I apologize. If there is any way I can make it up to her, please let me know. Also know that you have made me feel awful. I was simply trying to share some of the other opinions about the book. I have nothing but the greatest respect for blogs and contribute to them quite frequently. Rest assured that I have learned my lesson and will never comment on commentary about my books again. Sincerely chastened, Chris."

He says he's learned his lesson, but I think he still doesn't get the point: readers don't have to love everything you write. And that's okay.

I don't think I'll be following his career as a writer. It kind of oogs me out that he responded this way to one minorly negative review.

Good Grief

Usually I don't like precocious child characters. But when they're balding or run their own psychiatry clinics or love Beethoven and are animated, I'm in. Of course I'm talking about Peanuts, Charles Schulz's major comic work. Who isn't at least familiar with Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and Linus? They're cultural icons. And they're not sappy and sickening like the kids in Family Circus. They're all really awkward and nerdy. (Just like kids should be!) After all, Schroeder loved Beethoven. What elementary schooler gets into classical music? (And isn't beat up?)

The New York Times has a sweet article about music (specifically classical) in Peanuts comic strips. The music theme may not be as memorable as the football thing, or Snoopy plugging away on his typewriter, or Lucy playing mental health with her friends; but Schulz was really into music and wanted it to be a part of the comic:

"When Schroeder pounded on his piano, his eyes clenched in a trance, the notes floating above his head were no random ink spots dropped into the key of G. Schulz carefully chose each snatch of music he drew and transcribed the notes from the score. More than an illustration, the music was a soundtrack to the strip, introducing the characters’ state of emotion, prompting one of them to ask a question or punctuating an interaction."

For a weekday comic, I think that's really neat. Schulz brings in an entirely different medium to express the emotions of cartoon characters. It's a cool way to explore what you can do with art and character.

And speaking of characters:

"[After a concert] he would say, ‘How would it be if Marcie and Peppermint Patty were at a concert, and ...’ He was always thinking about his characters."

I like anyone who goes to a classical music concert and thinks about how his young animated characters would react to the music.

How to Make Your Friends Secretly Hate You

It sounds like a SNL skit with Kristen Wiig playing someone really awkward (her forte). Someone hates how in love her friends are and decides to talk to them about it. Except this is actually the advice Margot Carmichael Lester gives MSN readers.

Everyone hates at least one couple for some totally standard reason. Who wants to see people so freaking adorable and in love? Kissy faces and obnoxious nicknames? It's disgusting. Why should they be so freaking happy? And then when they talk about the sickeningly sweet couple things they do, you kind of wish pterodactyls would descend from the sky and eat their faces off.

Subtle, right?

But Margot recommends a different approach when a friend's relationship is bothering you. First step:

• Fess up. "Tell your friends that you're thrilled for them and what they've got going on in their love life and you can't help but be a wee bit jealous...Telling on yourself will close the distance the jealousy creates, and you will look and feel instantly hotter with that weight off your chest."
  

Because that's really going to help. What is the Happy Couple supposed to do? Say they're sorry? After all, they have a right to be happy. If you tell them their love makes you feel bad about your own life, they're going to feel unnecessarily guilty and not really have a way to deal with it. After that, your company will always be a reminder of that guilt and they'll avoid your company. And rightfully so.

• Be grateful. "Gratitude trumps envy. Start focusing on what you do have rather than pining for what's 'missing.' Hang a whiteboard on your fridge and write down three blessings in your life — big or small — when you're en route to that lonely, bitter place or catch yourself in a 'poor me' whine. Bottom line: Recognize all the love and goodness in your life — right here, right now — and envy won't stand a chance."
  

This one's more reasonable. The white board might be a little much, but it's good to count your blessings. Plus, you can remind yourself about how Happy Couple probably argues about where to spend holidays and how to invest savings and when they should get married/have kids/retire. Just don't keep the white board out when you have friends over; then you'll get back into that awkward whiney monologue that no one wants to hear.

• Ask them to share the love. Your pals who are lovingly linked are in a great position to help you get that way, too. "Ask your friends to brainstorm with you on some ways to help you get your own love story started...Suggest they start by fixing you up with one (or two or three) of their honey's eligible friends."

Another bomb. If your Happy Couple Friend had someone to fix you up with, they probably would have already mentioned it. Bringing it up casually is one thing. Getting together friends for a "brainstorming session" is obnoxious. It's like their job is to set you up. Furthermore, I don't really know anyone who's harboring amazing guys. If I don't tell a friend that a guy friend of mine would be perfect for her, it's because I don't really see them as a couple. A brainstorming session isn't going to change that. Also, this makes it sound like finding romance for you is your friends' responsibility. It makes you sound desperate and awkward, and will make your friends feel guilty when they can't really come up with anyone for you. Plus, just because your attached friend happens to be in a stable relationship doesn't mean she'll be any good at finding someone for you.

That's not to say you should hide your feelings. But it's better to rant with another single friend about Happy Couple than to talk to them about it. And to discuss dating options. But please, don't come off as some kind of desperate dating whiner. Sometimes, that's even more annoying than Happy Couple.

And remember, when you start hating that Happy Couple, just think of the pterodactyls.

I See Sparkles

From the good people at the Boston Globe, ideas to fuck with your mind.

Because reporting the news just isn't enough!




Seriously, though, does the radio/ping-pong ball thing work? I think you'd have to be almost in isolation to only get the sounds of static.

Also from the article: "Wouldn't it be fun to hallucinate on your lunch break?"

The Boston Globe lunch room must be a fun place!

What is This Trash? Checkers?

She's a chess master playing by all the rules. The only rule he knows is...checkmate.







Fake trailers make my day.

Heaven sounds pretty rockin' to me

This made me chuckle.

Feel a Little Super Today

It's hard to feel like a superhero when you're behind a desk all day. Good thing Marvel's here to change that.

I'm a sucker for "make your own" anything. Add that to ass-kicking power and I'm there.

My superhero is a Viking Girl with wings. Inspired by the braided pigtail option, obviously. She fights for truth, justice, and Valhalla.

Share your own!

Tastes Like Victory

There are several different emotions to experience as the presidential inauguration approaches: excitement, hope, anxiety...thirst.

Mount Pleasant homebrewer Sam Chapple-Sokol has developed a beer just for this election. For Obama's victory, he brewed The Audacity of Hops. Now, for the inauguration, Chapple-Sokol is back with the InaugurAle Edition. It's pretty similar to the election edition, but Chapple-Sokol has upped the stakes:

"Chapple-Sokol’s beer—still supplied with a mixture of Hawaiian, Indonesian, and Kenyan coffee beans by his father—has a rich coffee-infused taste with hints of malt and mocha. But the brewer isn’t constrained by his punny title. He goes light on the hops to avoid a bitter taste and instead goes heavy on the alcohol, upping the percentage from 8% in his last batch to 9% in honor of the new year."

Somehow I feel it would have been more appropriate to up the alcohol level during the last inauguration. You know, when we needed a good drink.

Raise a glass to the future of America, everyone, wherever you might be on election day.

We're Just Different...Different Roommates

The freshman college roommate situation can be tough. It's (probably) the first time in your life when you had to coexist with a stranger in an area the size of two shoe boxes. What if your roommate listens to sucky music? What if she has a live-in boyfriend? (Just say no to sexiling.) What if she thinks your things are just her things (only she didn't have to pay for them)? What if you "accidentally" kill her because she's freakin' obnoxious?

Of course, your college roommate could end up being your best friend. She could end up being the most awesome person you've ever met. She could end up as really famous one day.

Even better, you could both end up famous.

Like these famous roommates. Most people know about Al Core and Tommy Lee Jones (inspiration for Oliver in the sap-fest Love Story). But what about:

Wes Anderson and Owen Wilson
Just a couple of wacky guys who wanted to make films. No wonder Owen Wilson shows up in everything Wes does. They're not just best friends, they're roomies! Also, apparently Anderson used his writing skills (via an Edgar Allen Poe paper for Owen) to get the better bedroom in their apartment.

Score one for the writers!

Edward Gorey and Frank O'Hara
It's like they're characters on some indie sitcom: the wacky artist and the intense poet. I bet they argued over who was more emo.

I wonder what kind of posters they had up on their walls.

Christopher Reeve and Robin Williams
I know it's not true, but I like to think that they went to bars to pick up girls with Reeves dressed as Superman and Williams bouncing off the walls. That'll get the ladies every time.

Sweet footnote: "Williams even covered some of Reeve’s medical expenses after he was paralyzed. Of course, being Robin Williams, he couldn’t stop there; after Reeve found out he couldn’t walk again, Williams visited him dressed as a doctor and pretending to be his proctologist, reportedly causing Reeve to smile for the first time since the accident."

College roommates = best friends forever.

Monkey Business

Maybe the most adorable surprise delivery ever. Kate from Color Me Katie received a monkey costume:

"The mailman handed me a bag with no name on it but assured me that it was mine. It was filled with new baby clothes, a little note, and an awesome monkey costume."

It makes me want to send costumes to random (adorable) people. I bet there's an American Amelie doing that right now.