How to Spend Your Time Tomorrow on Leap Day

Just chiming in while wailing away on other writing projects.

Simply head to http://spendyourleapsecondhere.com/ - it's a microsite via Last Week Tonight with John Oliver.

Watch each video 60 times. Then multiply those by 60, and then by 24.

That's how you can spend Leap Day. Or as John Oliver explains during the "leap second" brouhaha:



(Although, technically, if you throw that video into the mix, you can spend even more time)

Enjoy!

Moving Towards The Other Side

To be quite honest, despite the trauma of the past four months....this has been a very positive year for me.

Although recovery has been slow, I have been carving out a small career as a freelance consultant for both agencies and my own one-man shop. I've actually managed to increase my social activities, and my writing career is taking off.....

Keeping perspective is a challenge, though - my cousin is still recovering from the accident involving him and my aunt. (He is enduring heavy injuries; my aunt was killed on impact). Mom is "fostering" another cat (but let's be honest - by "fostering", I mean "planning to keep anyway"). One of my fellow Doctor Who fans from the Meetup passed away after surgery.

Ironically, one of the challenges I am facing is that....well, it seems like my accepting certain issues leads to those being resolved in a totally different manner. Take C2E2....after being declined a press pass, I had accepted that maybe this year, I would take a break. However, I was asked to do not one, but two freestanding events within the convention. Certain work opportunities are presenting themselves without me prompting them.

Moving through transitions - getting to the other side - is scary and thrilling, for precisely the same reason: I have no idea what's coming. Looking at it one way, my only problems are luxury problems....but from another view, they seem insurmountable.

But if I'm totally honest, I'm looking at myself in comparison to the man I was two years ago, and there's been a slight turnaround. I'm more confident that things will work out....maybe not the way I wish, but they will work out.

And that's what keeps me going.

UP FROM WHERE WE'VE COME: A Must-Read

Musician Charles Wright is best known for his 1970 song, "Express Yourself"...and he's taken his own advice in writing his memoir, Up: From Where We've Come

Although I must disclose that I received a complimentary electronic copy for review, I'm glad I took on the assignment, because Up From Where We've Come is one of the best memoirs I've read in awhile.

First, I enjoy reading about the small, more personal takes on history, and this is where Up From Where We've Come shines. Wright structured his book as a series of small vignettes, but these vignettes craft a very intricate portrait. Starting from his experiences of something that happened before he was born to his family's move to California, Wright explores his experiences as a child in the deep South.

While discussing his youthful experiences, Wright doesn't pull punches. For those seeking a smaller, more intimate exploration of the African-American experience, Wright shares in a direct, honest way. Up From Where We've Come has several stories where heartbreak and pain are prevalent. (There's a scene involving Wright, his brother, and a turtle that will soften even the hardest of hearts). Even when describing experiencing racism in the South, Wright provides a matter-of-fact tone that neither condones nor condemns.

But much of Up From Where We've Come is a sheer joy to read. Wright gives his tale warmth, humor, and refreshing surprises. (Like an introduction by Little Richard). Up From Where We've Come is one of the best things I've read this year, and is definitely worth reading.

Up From Where We've Come is supposed to be the first volume in a series of memoirs by Charles Wright....and I'm looking forward to the next volume.

Your Fair Use Educational Moment of Zen

While I'm busy writing, working, and digging my way out of some well-ignored tasks, a video you should read - and share.

A Little Rant About Digital Piracy

While reviewing my e-mail yesterday, I became part of a conversation with some fellow authors. One of these authors had remarked on possibly being asked to sign a counterfeit version of his work.

Since I am now a "working writer" (meaning I write and I work), I also came across some illegal versions of my writing. So if anyone ever approaches me with an obviously bootlegged version of my work....well, here's the canned speech.

"Ok, so you downloaded this because...well, you couldn't afford the book. Well, I'm not going to sign it. Not even with an obviously fake name like "Martin Chuzzlewit" or "John Cleese".

Why? Because even though it's unintended, you're giving creators and artists the finger by bootlegging.

Let's take Black Bat Mystery - Volume 3 as an example - my fellow authors Gene Moyers, Greg Hatcher, and Erik Franklin put in a lot of time to craft their stories. I only know Greg through his work for Comics Should Be Good, and don't know Erik. I've met Gene at Windy City Pulp and Paper, and he's a gentleman and a scholar. 

Marco and Graham worked hard on providing some great art, and Ron and Rob and the Airship 27 editorial staff worked. And what's our reward?

Royalties. Your illegal download prevents us from earning money.

"But Gordon - books are expensive. I don't have money. Plus, information should be free"

Now, let's be clear - that book costs less than $20 regardless of format: Softcover, Kindle, and PDF. Purchased legally, we get the results of our hard work. Plus, you're screwing over a small business - it's one thing to download a television show for your own viewing. Not cool, given that many services stream, but that's a larger enterprise. By pirating this book, you're screwing over a smaller publisher.

(Same goes for my Pro Se work, and especially Dreamer's Syndrome: New World Navigation . I've never met Frank Byrns, Brent Lambert, Aidan Mohan, Brad Mengel, Greg Rose, or Eric Woodard. I've only talked with Mark Bousquet - my editor/publisher at Space Buggy - via e-mail. But choosing to download via dubious methods shortchanges many efforts to bring new, creative visions to others. 


(Good example - Big Finish once remarked that it stopped production on Sapphire & Steel audio dramas because more people were illegally downloading than were actually purchasing it. Since sales were low, they had to made a business decision....one which they probably did not want to make)

Besides, would you appreciate it if your employer asked you to work for free? Or worse, expected you to work for spec until they decided you were worth paying? You sure as heck wouldn't.

And if you're torrenting these books - please stop it. You're only doing it to line your own wallet at our expense. You're not doing us any favors, and quite frankly, you're disrupting our efforts to stay creative. I can't stop you from torrenting music, audio, etc, but consider that by doing so....you're not just breaking the law, but you're also hurting the very creators who are trying to bring great visions to life.

So why not buy an actual hard copy - or use your mobile device to order a Kindle or PDF - and I'll sign it. But I'm not going to openly endorse or condone bootlegging by signing something that I know is obtained illegally...and which adversely affects both me and my fellow creators.

And thus endeth the lecture."

So if you want to avoid having me shake my finger in that 'you-darn-kids-get-off-my-lawn manner'....well, you now know what to do.

Your Out-of-Context Public Domain Ad Moment of Zen

Mondays With Columbo: SWAN SONG

You might think, "Oh, this is the Columbo episode with Johnny Cash, so it's got to be a bit terrible."

Actually, this entry from Columbo's third season is quite remarkable in how it both reveals the crime and the resulting investigation....

...but first, the not-so-good parts.

First, the concert footage at the beginning - there's a quite obvious visual difference between actual Cash concert footage and studio-filmed Cash footage. (Admittedly, it was the 1970s, but the feel as like bouncing from the Captain America: Civil War trailer and the Batman V Superman trailer). It also doesn't help that Sorrell Booke - playing the victim's brother and the man who kick starts the investigation - plays his role a little too over-the-top.

But Johnny Cash? His performance is pretty rock solid. Oh, sure, there are some...interesting dialogue and pronunciation choices (as the Just One More Thing podcast points out), but Cash never plays Tommy Brown as an overt villain. It's very reminiscent, in fact, of Andy Griffith's turn in A Face In the Crowd - behind the aw-shucks demeanor is a carefully calculating individual. A man who sees himself as slightly ahead of the curve....which is what Columbo's counting in.

But there's another nice aspect to the episode....and that's Columbo's interactions with Pangborn, an FAA investigator played by veteran character actor John Dehner. Normally, Columbo's interactions with investigators of various kinds tends to be....well, Peter Falk portrays Columbo as a slight annoyance to others. With Dehner - I'm willing to bet it's the script - there's a nice, polite respect between the two men. Gone are the obvious overt Columbo-isms - there's a great deal to joy in watching these two men work together. It's only a few scenes, but it's sheer delight.

Finally, this is one of those scripts that - with only a minor tweaking - could be a 21st century episode. A religious country music singer who murders his wife and background singer in order to gain money....and hide a dark secret? Had this been produced two or three years ago, the conservative set would have been up in arms about this. But in the 1970s, it was....a bit more polite, but still has something of a contemporary edge.

One of the better Columbo episodes.

Farewell to My Feline Brother Chucky

Originally Posted on Facebook

Today was....kind of rough. 

Mom's cat Chucky has been sick for the past week. Barely eating, sleeping a lot....well, Chucky never was an up-and-lively cat. He was more of a quiet, reserved kitty.

Kind of like me as a person. 

When Mom was in and out of the hospital pre-transplant, he would poke his head out when I would visit, see that I was there, and then head off, leaving me to annoy his brother Smokey. 

But today, I took the time to take Mom and Chucky to the vet. Long story short....chances weren't good. 

And Mom and I both had to let go of Chucky. 

Losing pets is relatively new for me - my original high school-era cats had passed while I lived in St. Louis. Smokey got a pre-ending visit, and I was able to be there for Dax. 

And thankfully, I was able to be there for Mom. 

 It's rather ironic - a few days ago, I was accused of being "arrogant" because I suggested that some things weren't worth drama. I'm proud of the fact that I was able to be there for my mom....and my feline brother. 

And if that makes me arrogant, so be it. 

RIP, Chucky. You'll be missed.

Kick off African-American History Month with MACKED, HAMMERED, SLAUGHTERED & SHAFTED

Macked, Hammered, Slaughtered, & Shafted - a blaxploitation documentary from David F Walker on Vimeo.

Came across this while reading Derrick Ferguson's movie review blog.

Many of his sentiments and opinions echo my own, so I thought that rather than repeat what he said, post both his review....and the direct link to the film.

Definitely a must-watch.