Richard and the Bee
Posted on | January 27, 2012 | 3 Comments
As a parent there are times you just have to cross your fingers, pray, and hope for the best. We had such a situation this week. Our youngest–and most shy–child decided to enter the school spelling bee. His division would include not just first graders like himself, but first, second and third graders together. And, as I said, he’s shy.
Needless to say, we were surprised. And nervous. You want your children to take chances and plow new ground. You don’t want them to fail at it and have them be less willing to put themselves out there again. So we helped him study as best we could and prayed things would turn out well.
He didn’t like studying the words. Terhi patiently found some ways to encourage him and get him to put in more of an effort. But he had still only made it through half the list by the day of the spelling bee. When we’d help him practice the night before he’d miss words and get upset. We were getting worried.
That morning, however, he did well on the practice words we gave him, boosting his confidence. Then came the competition. He was nervous, of course, but relaxed quite a bit when he got his first word correct. Then he missed one, but they were allowed one miss. He got the next several words correct, including two compound words he hadn’t practiced. When he did finally go out, he’d at least made it into the top half of the group, and was the only one left from his class.
Most importantly, he was pleased with his performance. That was the important thing, and the thing we had worried about the most. Our kids don’t need to win all the time, but we at least want them to do well enough that they’ll be willing to keep trying new things. So from our point of view, and apparently Richard’s as well, that was a win.
Terhi and I can heave a sigh of relief now. Our boy put himself out there and tried something difficult and a little intimidating. I’m so grateful it turned out to be a good experience for him. These are the moments you live for as a parent.
Goals for 2012
Posted on | January 26, 2012 | No Comments
I told you’d I’d be back with specific goals for this year! And you doubted me! And with good reason, since here it is, nearly the end of January, and I’m just now getting them done. That’s my secret–if you procrastinate long enough you only have to keep your resolutions for eleven months instead of a whole year!
Anyway, here are my goals for 2012:
- Be more grateful – I really do have a lot to be grateful for, and I vowed back when I was unemployed to not take so many things for granted. I’ve already failed, but there’s no reason why I can’t try to make up for it a bit.
- Be more interesting – I’ve already posted about the Jessica Hagy article a few weeks ago, but I intend to take this more to heart this year. For someone who want to write interesting and unusual stories, I sure don’t put myself out there to identify and embrace new things very much. Time to change that.
- Be a writer – In case you haven’t noticed, I’m trying to be a writer, and not just of obscure blog posts. I won’t go into details here of what all I have planned, but it suffices to say this website is going to undergo some significant changes.
- Be more involved with my kids – As I wrote last week, I’m rapidly losing time to be a part of my children’s lives. Even though there’s likely a good ten years or more left before they start going out on their own, it’s only a few years now before they start becoming teenagers. If I’m not already part of their foundation by then it’ll likely be too late. I’d better get a move on!
- Be independently happy – I’m starting to notice I give people more influence over me than I really should. I need to learn to care more about you, and less about what you think of me. I need to learn that the moods of other people belong to them–I don’t have to adopt them myself, even if I’m trying to help or be supportive.
- Be healthier – I’m not getting any younger. I still have heart problems that may or may not be getting slowly worse. I’d prefer to be around as long as possible–as my cardiologist said, the longer we can hold off, the better the chance new technologies will be available to make fixing my problems that much easier than it is today. Besides, I’ve got an ambitious year ahead of me. It simply won’t do to be tired all the time. And so I need to really focus in on finding an exercise program that I will do.
I imagine I’ll let you in on the details of each of these goals at a later date (why put it all in one post when I can milk this baby for at least six more!), along with the steps I’ve identified to help me get there. But there you go, there’s my list for 2012. You’re all my witnesses–witnessi?
Tags: experience > fatherhood > fitness > goal > goals > gratitude > happiness > health > heart > parenting > resolutions > teenagers > writing
Who is the hero?
Posted on | January 25, 2012 | No Comments
I’ve recently been listening to a podcast on writing presented by Brandon Sanderson and several other writers, in which they discuss a different aspect of writing each time, in about fifteen minutes per post. In one such post the were covering heroes, protagonists, and main characters when it came out that they didn’t consider Aragorn from The Lord of the Rings to be a good hero, because he starts out powerful, confident, and committed, and ends much the same way. They feel that people aren’t interested in characters like that these days, and that Peter Jackson was right to do his hatchet-job on Aragorn’s character for the movies.
I think they missed the point altogether. The Lord of the Rings is not about Aragorn. Aragorn is a supporting character. The Lord of the Rings is about the hobbits; Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin. They are the ones who change through the course of the story. They are the ones who are indispensible.
Yes Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, and even Gandalf are all interesting, but they exist only to assist the hobbits on their path to becoming who they will be and to destroying the Ring. Yes, their assistance is important, especially early on. And had Aragorn not led the remnants of the armies of the west on his foolish diversion at the Black Gate Frodo would never have reached Mount Doom. But it was Frodo and Sam (and ultimately Gollem) who actually destroy the Ring. Without them Aragorn and the rest would have failed, and would have died.
The story of The Lord of the Rings is about four timid, naive, and unaware hobbits who first come to walk among the noble and great of Middle Earth and then to take their place among them. Nothing is more indicative of this than the final chapters of the book referred to as “The Scouring of the Shire”. Though Peter Jackson chose to ignore it, Orson Scott Card agrees with me (okay, he probably gave me the idea, to be honest) that this is the culmination of the book.
The hobbits that left the Shire in Book One would have been cowed and subjugated just like all the other hobbits when Saruman came had they remained in the Shire like they would have preferred. But because they were willing to leave the Shire in an effort to save it, they went through terrible things that built them up to become the very means of the Shire’s redemption. They came back with the courage, leadership, and skills to effectively foment and orchestrate the rebellion that overthrows “Sharkey” and his men and freed the Shire. In fact, what would have been impossible only a year earlier, was now almost easy.
So of course Aragorn doesn’t change and develop. He doesn’t need to! The story is not about him. He and the others exist to provide the models the hobbits need to become who they become. Their criticism is like saying the tyrannosaurus in Jurrassic Park is not a good protagonist because it starts out big, tough, and hungry, and remains big, tough, and hungry throughout. No, the tyrannosaurus in Jurassic Park is not a good protagonist because it’s not the protagonist. And a Boeing 747 is not a good cruise ship!
Don’t get me wrong. I like Sanderson and crew. They offer some good insights into the writing process and the life of an author. But they seem to fail in recognizing when their opinions are simply opinions. Their ideas on what makes a good hero, for example, may be somewhat grounded in fact, but they are still largely giving their opinions.
Look at Orson Scott Card, for example. I’ve read four different Ender books at least, and in none of them does the character of Ender Wiggin change significantly. Much of his changing, such as it is, takes place between books. Not only that, but he’s a near-superman (as opposed to Superman). Ender defies most every definition of a good protagonist that Sanderson, et al, put forth, and yet Ender’s Game has become one of the seminal works of Sci-Fi.
Furthermore, Jackson’s Lord of the Rings movies achieved the success they did not because the audience connected with Aragorn’s renovated character better. It was successful because the audience connected with the story itself, with the seemingly impossible task that the characters nonetheless undertook simply because someone had to. They connected with the black-and-white-ness of it; pure evil being overcome by pure goodness, by loyalty, love, and friendship.
So yes, I do take exception at Sanderson and party’s continual dismissal of The Lord of the Rings. They pay some homage to Tolkien, certainly, because the book defined an important genre, but at the same time refuse to acknowledge there is anything to be learned from it. Their view is understandable to a point; a lot of bad literature has been written through the years in the effort to duplicate Tolkien.
But just because so many fail at it does not diminish what Tolkien did–it strengthens it. It was not easy for even Tolkien to write Tolkien. What he wrote is precisely what he set out to write: mythology; a work so invocative and deep it insinuates itself into a civilization’s collective psyche and culture. So successful was he that the literary form ”trilogy” has become a subconscious ideal that has taken a long time to begin to challenge, let alone throw off.
So while I appreciate and enjoy what Sanderson and the rest are doing with Writing Excuses, I’m only willing to follow them so far. I’ve read Tolkien, and I’ve read Sanderson. I know which one has most shaped my life. Sanderson is good. Sanderson is enjoyable. But life-changing? No. Tolkien stands alone.
I’ve gone a bit off my intended topic. My original point was made some time ago. If you’ve made it this far you have my surprise and sympathy.
Tags: Aragorn > Brandon Sanderson > Frodo > heroes > hobbits > mythology > Sam > Tolkien
Alpenhorn Boogie
Posted on | January 24, 2012 | 1 Comment
If you use Bing at all, you’re familiar with the little boxes that pop up with various trivia and links. Today’s picture was alpenhorn players, and included a link to a video by a lady alpenhorn player who somehow manages to make the alpenhorn look…well, almost cool. The song is fairly catchy, anyway. Check it out:
Why do people hate Tim Tebow?
Posted on | January 24, 2012 | No Comments
Tim Tebow has barely registered on my celebrity meter for most of his career. Had you asked me a few months ago who Tim Tebow is I probably would have been able to tell you he’s a professional athlete. I may even have guessed the sport correctly. I never could have told you the team he plays for.
Now he’s probably the most mentioned celebrity in the social media circles I move in, perhaps even more than Lindsay Lohan. And it’s mostly negative, too, just like Lindsay Lohan. I’m not sure why.
As best I can figure, his problem is that he is openly Christian. This shows a clear lack of judgment on his part. He should have chosen something cooler to openly be, like openly gay or openly sleazy. In spite of our inclusive, divers, tolerant culture, being openly Christian manages to be in poor taste.
At least that’s what it sounds like. I hear much more negativity directed at Tebow than I’ve ever heard about Michael Vick or Tim Roethlisberger, so I can only assume that abusing animals and assaulting women are preferable to being openly Christian. Even people who I know couldn’t care less about professional football still have to weigh in against Tebow.
In fact, in all the criticism, I’ve only heard one complaint that seems fairly legitimate: He manages to pull off fantastic, come-from-behind wins at the last second, but if he’s so good, why can’t he be that good earlier in the game and actually win without all the suspense? That seems like a valid question.
Now I suppose some of the negativity is just the normal backlash that occurs when any celebrity is in the news too much, or when their fans get a bit too worshipful. But really, people take it way too far to try and compensate sometimes.
Frankly, I just don’t get what all the fuss is about. There are plenty of colorful sports figures out there, some more outspoken or demonstrative than Tebow, and on less savory topics. Okay, his reputation seems a bit overblown, but the Broncos lost now, which should put an end to that for awhile. Are we all going to turn on Tom Brady now? Or is Tim Tebow especially deserving of continued animosity?
I think it says more about us than it says about him. It also makes me question if I’m running in the right circles.
* * * * *
A local writer has another take on it: Our love/hate relationship with Tim Tebow
And this from Robert Wright at The Atlantic: Why Liberals Shouldn’t Dis Tim Tebow (or Jesus)
Being good for nothing
Posted on | January 23, 2012 | No Comments
I remember a joke from when I was a kid. We’d approach some other kid and ask them, “Does your mother pay you to be good?” Of course they’d say, “No!” We’d then laugh and proclaim, “Then you’re good for nothing!” Really funny stuff…when you’re ten.
This comes to mind after reading about the Livorno Port Authority Chief, Gregorio De Falco, who was on duty when the cruise ship Costa Concordia ran aground off Giglio, Tuscany. He is suddenly being hailed as a hero for ordering the ship’s captain back aboard the damaged ship, and coordinating the rescue effort. Never mind that De Falco doesn’t see it that way:
“Please stop talking about me,” Italian media quoted De Falco as saying. “It is my job to save lives.”
His wife agrees:
“People who simply live up to their everyday responsibilities are suddenly becoming idols, personalities and heroes in this country,” she commented with some concern.
Even some Italians are baffled at the sudden interest in De Falco:
“But why is someone who does his job and sticks to the rules suddenly a hero in Italy?” one Internet commentator wondered.
(All quotes taken from a Boston Herald article.)
I’m not for a moment insinuating that De Falco isn’t worthy of praise. In spite of his modesty and training, someone who keeps their head in an emergency is a hero. Period.
However, it must be said that people who “do their job and stick to the rules” are becoming increasingly rare. Oddly enough, the people most likely to do that are normal, ordinary people who will never get a moment of limelight, while the people who are regularly exposed to publicity seem to be the least likely to do what they’re supposed to do, even though it’s a sure bet they’ll get caught. It really makes no sense.
The world needs more good-for-nothing people.
Tags: Costa Concordia > Giglio > Gregorio De Falco > hero > heroes > Italy > Livorno > port authority > responsibility
And the children are all above average
Posted on | January 20, 2012 | No Comments
One of the most difficult things for adults to be objective about is their own children. Either they’re the smartest, most talented, most well-behaved angels ever to walk face of the earth, or they’re the most horrible monsters ever created. Often this depends on the current circumstances. Sometimes we even manage to hold both views simultaneously. In reality, however, most people’s kids are pretty much average.
I have good kids, really. They are above average at school, respectful to the teachers, and love to read. When they’re good, they’re very, very good. But other times they remind me why they created the term “sibling rivalry”.
But all in all, I really can’t complain. They’re all healthy, reasonably happy, and have a healthy curiosity about the world. They still want to include me in their lives, and I need to appreciate that while I can. They have many things in common with each other and with their parents, yet also some rather surprising traits and interests that seem to come out of nowhere.
And the time is passing so quickly. My wife and I were talking the other night an realized that we’re nearly to the hilltop now. In as many more years as we’ve been together we’ll be just about to the empty nest stage. We’re running out of time to influence our kids.
I suspect they’ll be okay, though. Our kids seem to have the ability to turn out okay in spite of our best efforts to the contrary. We’re not actively trying to ruin them, but to use the modern nomenclature of responsibility-avoidance, “mistakes have been made”. Considering how flawed I am, and how much I’m still trying to figure myself out, it’ll be amazing if my kids turn out reasonably self-reliant and well-adjusted.
But I think they’ll be okay. They’re good kids. And all things considered, we’ve been pretty fortunate to get the ones we got.
SOPA is bad. So is piracy.
Posted on | January 19, 2012 | No Comments
Bob Sullivan, a writer for MSNBC.com and an opponent of the SOPA/PIPA bills that are causing our favorite sites to shut down in protest, raises an interesting point that is well worth remembering:
So tonight, while you’re patting yourself on the back for being a part of a genuine Internet movement that has successfully influenced Congress – an impressive feat, mind you – know that there’s much more work to be done. Tell a friend they should link to a story instead of copy a story onto a blog. Because if we don’t find a reasonable way to protect intellectual property rights, you can bet an unreasonable one will rear its ugly head again soon.
Just because the SOPA/PIPA bills are badly written, draconian measures doesn’t mean that piracy should be ignored. Regardless of whether you think content should be free on the Internet or not, the highest quality content usually comes from people who get paid or otherwise compensated/rewarded. To steal content only means the Internet will devolve into an even bigger cesspool of belly-button examination than it already has. Give credit where credit is due.
That’s why I try to give credit whenever I can, accompanied by a link. I only quote portions of someone else’s work, never the entirety (unless I have permission), and make sure it’s evident I’m quoting. Is that really so much to ask? Malicious theft is bad enough, but lazy theft just exacerbates the problem. Sullivan is right: if we don’t start policing ourselves better there will be more bad legislation coming, and sooner or later, some of it’s going to stick.
Tags: copyright > fair use > intellectual property > IP > PIPA > piracy > SOPA > theft
Book Review: Hidden Empire – Orson Scott Card
Posted on | January 18, 2012 | 2 Comments
So when Hidden Empire came out last year I didn’t rush to buy it. Or even borrow it. For one, I was knee-deep in writing a novel of my own at the time, and for another…well, there were other by him I’d rather read first. I did, however, put it on my Christmas wish list, and by golly, my wife bought for me! (Thank you, dear!)
Hidden Empire is a sequel to a novel that was written as a companion product to a video game (hence, evidently, the need to kill off the main character half-way through), and is based on the premise that a historian, learning from history, can foresee the decline and fall of America, and has determined the only way to save it is to turn it into an empire run by an enlightened dictator. Through a long series of events, this historian becomes President of the United States, and helps put down a rebellion with the help of the second-string main characters.
Hidden Empire picks up from there, focusing mostly on Col. Coleman and Cecily Malich as a new plague sweeps Africa. Equipped with some fancy gadgets (the main sci-fi element), Coleman and his team are sent to Nigeria to help protect afflicted tribes from genocide, but find themselves pawns in President Torrent’s mechanations to establish his American Empire.
As a side plot, Cecily Malich and her son Mark wrestle with what it means to be a Christian, and end up going to Africa as well to assist plague victims. As a person of faith, I found it refreshing to have religion discussed frankly and positively as opposed to being the root of all evil, as prevades most entertainment these days. But that and the right-leaning ideology of the characters is likely to rub many liberal readers the wrong way (as it seems to do, looking at the Amazon.com reviews).
While it’s true that Card feels similarly to his characters on most topics, what many people miss is that he is also being true to his characters. The US military tends to be a conservative group. They tend to be religious. That Card doesn’t feel the need to put them down for it is bound to bug some people.
But ultimately Card’s biggest problem is that he’s writing about near-current events. No matter how he feels about many modern issues (people might be surprised–he’s not as conservative as they might think), merely mentioning them in this context is going to trigger all the knee-jerk reactions that accompany those issues from people on both sides. In short, set something in space hundreds of years in the future and people are more successful at being apolitical. Set it in a modern, familiar setting, and the reader’s ideology is going to color their reception of the book considerably.
It’s a good, quick read. I enjoyed it. It didn’t hit me as deeply as many of his others. It reads much like several of of the “Shadow” series books, only without the deeper discussion of strategy and psychology. Card admits in the Acknowledgements that this is not the book he set out to write, and perhaps it shows. By deciding to take it in another direction while under a deadline may have resulted in novel with less depth than most Card readers are used to. Not that Empire was all that deep, either.
I had to wonder, though, if Card really told the story he wanted to tell here. When the immediate danger of the plague is over and the survivors return home I thought we were through with the book and were just winding things down. But no, suddenly we have a second climax that feels tacked on, followed by a rather unsatisfying ending reminiscent of Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith, and a decision by the hero that, while not entirely unexpected, doesn’t seem quite to fit him, either.
Card is at his best in taking us into the unfamiliar and showing us the not only the familiarity of it, but often the accompanying beauty of it. He’s good at showing us the interplay of minds. We don’t get that as much here, and while I don’t feel cheated–it’s a fun, entertaining story–I don’t feel a compelling need to rush out and pick up the next book, either. Assuming there will be one.
If I were to give it a rating, I’d probably go with three out of five stars, but that would be unfair to Card. It’s only because I think so highly of him that I expect more from him. The same book written by someone else would probably merit four stars. The same book written by me would be a miracle.
The Empire series is an interesting experiment for Card, and I’d be interested in how he feels it’s going. For me, it’s got many of the elements that makes Card Card, but it’s still somehow missing the mental depth and zing that I enjoy so much. It’s almost like he’s constrained somehow and not able to really tell the story he wants to tell. Or he’s not yet sure what that story is.
As I said, it’s an entertaining book. But I doubt I’ll be coming back to it again the way I have some of his others. This is no “Speaker for the Dead”. But it’s a good read.
Tags: Empire > Hidden Empire > novel > Orson Scott Card > politics > science fiction
Civil discourse
Posted on | January 17, 2012 | No Comments
This segment is hilarious! I have no idea if this lady is for real, a good sport, or an actress, but this is just too good to not post:
EDIT: The embed doesn’t seem to work. Here’s the link to the video.
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