Archive for the 'Writing' Category

Are we then good?

Published
by
Cover Judge
on January 6, 2007
in Film, Religion and Writing
. 3 Comments

Part One: I began the below post two days ago.

I have been struggling with the idea of whether or not man is inherently good by nature. A christian point of view says we are good, because we are God’s creation and he is good, but the world I live in tells me different. When we get power, we are evil. When we get money, we are evil. We abuse, corrupt, molest, steal, cheat, and kill.

Don’t get me wrong, there are good people. But are they acting in spite of their nature or because of it?

This is where being an atheist or naturalist is great. We are neither good nor bad. We just are. We choose what we will be.

This man risked his life to save a stranger, leaving his two daughters behind. He makes me feel like I am good.

Part Two: Tonight I saw Children of Men.

I won’t review it here right now, but possibly soon. The movie’s premise is a world without children is a world without hope. There are many other political and social issues raised by the film but the primary issue is one of hope. At one point, a character is the movie is talking about one of the main characters lives. He says something like “There are two things, faith and chance. His faith led him to his wife, his faith shaped who he was, but then chance came along and caused him great sorrow. In his life, chance won.” This is a very inaccurate summary of what was said, but you get the point. The movie showcased the depravity of man in a way that made you sick to your stomach while watching. Good people died pointlessly. Life had no worth. My wife walked out of the theater saying how much she hated the movie because how bad it made her feel. “Good”, I thought (but obviously didn’t say), it did what was intended. Life without hope is sickening. So what do we put our hope in? Science? The goodness of man? The film shows that both have failed the world. According to the movie, the answer is definitely not governments or even the groups that subvert them.

So what then do we put our “confident belief in the truth, value, or trustworthiness of a person, idea, or thing” in?

Part Three: Later this evening, I read page 171 of Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell

It had this on it:

Ultimately our gift to the world around us is hope. Not blind hope that pretends everything is fine and refuses to acknowledge how things are. But the kind of hope that comes from staring pain and suffering right in the eyes and refuses to believe that this is all there is…

Central to reclaiming creation…is the affirmation that when God made the world, God said it was “good”.

And it still is.

I don’t totally agree with everything Mr. Bell says about the nature of God and Christianity, but he makes a good point here. So then do we start a new church called “Hope Meeting Place”? No, thats not the point.

If we live in world that is good, then we have hope. And if we have hope, we can give it out. To the helpless and hopeless.

Grow Up

Published
by
Cover Judge
on December 27, 2006
in Film and Writing
. 3 Comments

Growing up in a Christian household, the arts were slightly looked down upon. Not being in choir or plays in school but “art” as a job or lifestyle was frowned upon. I’m not claiming my parents held me or other family members back, but the first time I said,”I want to be a movie director”, I can tell you I didn’t get a standing ovation (which is why I want to be a director right? Constant back pats, the “cream always rises” type comments, etc.). The argument against it was that the deeper you get into it, the darker it is. You can enjoy and appreciate acting, but you don’t want to be an actor because then you have to be a weirdo who wants to make movies about rape and murder.

To give my parents credit they might have been right. The more I got into films themselves and film appreciation the more my moral standards had to fluctuate. I didn’t believe in seeing nudity in films, BUT if it was a great art film that was going to expand me creatively, it was okay. This “fluctuation” is chalked up to many as adulthood. You learn the folly of your childish ignorance. Now the occasional drunkenness, that as a child you viewed as wrong, is okay. What caused you to fast-forward is now just a quick boob. Adults can “handle” themselves better than kids.

I recently spoke with a friend about a book I’m reading called, At the Back of the North Wind by George Macdonald. I explained to him it was a children’s fantasy novel and his response was, “really, a kids book?”. I stopped and thought about it for a moment and came to this realization and shared it with him: I find it a much better exercise to read something that requires the imagination of a child, than something that requires the sophistication of an adult.

Why does it seem that there is something dark about adulthood? A loss of innocence and the gain of what? Biased opinion and jaded experience?

It truly does seem the “deeper” we go the “darker” it gets.

On a technorati search for George Macdonald, I came across this post. Ted Tschopp, talks about this as it relates to fantasy/sci-fi novels. He says,

Over the years, I have read and watched some very dark and strange things in the hope of reconnecting with the feelings I got when I first heard that there was a hobbit who lived in a hole in the ground. After a while I realized the foolishness in exploring more adult and darker themed fictions which were said to match my age or demographic. I realized that I was chasing shadows. I would stare at the shapes and marvel how they twisted. I would revel in the way they could make me shudder.

This fascination is why we look, when someones says don’t. Why horror movies are more popular than ever. Why video games are now full of violence and sex.

We feel drawn to touch the darkness. To be “deep”, “sophisticated”, and “adult”.

But when we get there all we want to do is return to “simplicity” of childhood.

Mixed Blood

Published
by
Cover Judge
on December 15, 2006
in Film, Graphic Novel and Writing
. 1 Comment

Excellent exclusive interview with Mel about Apocalypto. I think Mel understands the art of storytelling. Compelling action/conflict, humor and a point.

I am working on the graphic novel again. Took a break for a while. I forgot how much I love writing. Actually I dont know if it’s the writing I love. I see the images in my head. Thats what I love. The images in my head. And writing lets me share them with you or directing or poems or art. I just want to share them.

I almost don’t want to see Apocalypto because I know it will affect me creatively and there is this great desire in me to avoid mimicry. I am so worried about being original but want stay relevant at the same time.

I am redoing the beginning of the novel right now. Maybe I will share a piece with you. It starts at the beginning of time and the creation of the earth. The novel in a whole is turning out more dark and forboding than I thought it would. Not that it doesn’t have it’s fun moments but the overall story is a little heavier than I originally thought it up to be. The original idea was to create a modern day western that still had the sensibilities of something classic. I think the more I got into reading and writing about the Native American, specifically the Wintu* tribe, element of the story, it really changed the tone. In fact the story is much more centered around Native American culture than small western town culture now. But it’s all still a work in progress. Needless to say, I am really excited about it and am happy to be working on it again.

If you are wondering why the title of this post has nothing to do with the post itself and are saying to yourself,”He has so much whit, I wonder what the sarcastic play on words is that I am missing”. Don’t worry, your not obtuse. This is the working title of my graphic novel and by my, most of my readers understand that I mean the graphic novel written by me and drawn by the Fantastic (yep I capitalized it) Curt Merlo

*You can read a brief history on the Wintu here. It’s pretty sad. Basically the pre-contact population was around 14,000 (most likely more) and in 50 years their population was down under 500. Now they are an unrecognized tribe, while other made-up tribes are claiming land for Casinos to be built.

Geoffrey Chaucer Hath a Blog

Published
by
Cover Judge
on November 24, 2006
in Writing
. 0 Comments

A very whitty person has been blogging under the moniker and diction of Geoffrey Chaucer.  You can read the blog here.

Some old english skills necessary.

Yosemite and Water Baloons

Published
by
Cover Judge
on November 20, 2006
in Guest, Sustainability and Writing
. 1 Comment

Last time our guest blogger taught you that your music is bad, this week he ponders the compromise between convenience and conscience.

A while back I was sitting on my couch with a few friends. Some how or another the conversation led us to a point where this nice young lady said something along the lines of:

“Who is that guy on the California quarter and why doesn’t it have Hollywood or the Golden Gate bridge on it?”

Thats what California is all about right? This statement made me somewhat upset. California does have Hollywood, beaches, San Francisco. But it also has rednecks, blue grass music, the tallest largest trees (which are the oldest objects on our planet), the tallest mountain in the lower 48 states Mt. Whitney (thats right Colorado), the lowest point in the US (Bad Water, CA) and the majestic, magnificent Yosemite valley.

Shame on you if you are a Californian, or even if you have been to this great state and have not taken the time to go and experience one of the most beautiful places on this planet. The Europeans know this. If you ever go there you will see thousands of them with their capri pants and “euro” shoes and fanny packs. The way that us Americans dream of going to Europe to see the castles and drink their beer and be a part of their historic culture is mirrored by Europeans who wish to come to California to rent motorcycles and be like the old cowboys of the west, no joke. I learned this by talking to a group of skinny Germans who rented Harley’s to cruise the golden state.

I was talking to a friend Carlo from Italy who was visiting the US. I told him as I tell everyone from out of state that while he was here he must go see Yosemite (pronounced Yo Sem It TEE). He looked at me with a puzzled face. “This place I have never heard of” he said. Then I showed him a picture and his face lit up,”Yosemite (pronounced Yo Sem Ite; as he pronounced it) of course, this place I must see”.

Well the man on that California quarter is none other than John Muir. He brought president Roosevelt to Yosemite and stopped the evil William Mullholland from daming Yosemite for water and profit. But there was another valley 10 miles to the north called Hetch Hetchy Valley, commonly reffereed to as a second Yosemite, and its fate was not as lucky. John Muir is quoted as saying;

“Dam Hetch Hetchy! You might as well dam the people’s cathedrals and churches, for no holier temple has ever been consecrated by the heart of man.”

John Muir died a few months after Hetch Hetchy was dammed. It literally broke his heart. If you have ever been to Yosemite you would know how unbelieveably beautiful this section of the state is and what a loss Hetchy Hetchy was.

When I learned this I became upset that those civic leaders in San Francisco would do that and destroy such a beautiful place. I mentioned this to my father and his response shook me. “Son, you’ve been drinking Hetch Hetchy water since you were born”, unbeknownst to me the pipes run less then a mile from my house in Northern California and I have been swimming, bathing and drinking this water that I hated so much.

It is great to be an advocate for the enviornment and beauty however we are all stuck in an inescapeable use of our planets resources wether we like it or not. Well me might as well enjoy what we have, get to Yosemite.

Check out the before and after pics of Hetch Hetchy here;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hetch_Hetch…

Wii spelled W-e

Published
by
Cover Judge
on November 19, 2006
in Writing
. 1 Comment

I have been trying to get a Nintendo Wii for Christmas. I don’t need it, but I want it. I tried to go about it casually and just show up at some store to try and find one, but I started seeing lines of 100-200 at my local Target, so I called a friend to see if he wanted to stand in line with me. Part of waiting in line to be the first is actually wanting what your waiting for but a large part is just the fun of doing something out of the ordinary.

So we showed up at a local Walmart at midnight and waited till 6 in the morning in line. I am happy to announce I got one and I just finished breaking a sweat playing Wii boxing.

I waited in line six hours to get a Wii, and then had the privilege of giving my money to Walmart to get one. Shortly after I got home I took a shower and headed out for a Sunday morning cruise on a 40 ft charter boat courtesy of someone in my Marine Naturalist program. We headed up the coast looking for pods of common or bottlenose dolphins. We got ready to head into the harbor when we got a call on the radio telling us someone came across a pod of 1500 common dolphins where we were earlier in the day. We all decided to turn around and head 4 miles back out to sea to “chase” them down. I fell asleep on the boat, tired from the night before (which did not include sleep). I was awakened to shouts and pointing.

We all headed onto the bow of the boat. The dolphins, starting with groups of three or four, rode the wake caused by the bow treading the water. They weave in and out, making calculated jumps to breathe and return to the “surf” as fast as possible. They are powerful beasts, yet at the same time it is the most delicate dance I have ever seen. The groups of three or four become twenty. A calf jumps, but isn’t quite coordinated yet and it comes off as a half-backflip. No one wants to move or even think. Everyone’s feelings at the moment were simply expressed as “wow” with maybe a “oh my gosh, look over there” thrown in for good measure. After watching the dolphins like this for almost two hours (and two hours past when were were supposed to return), we decided to head back. One person made the comment that it felt “unreal”. Maybe because it has already been simulated for us by television or we’ve seen them do double front flips on command.

It all made for one amazing weekend. I am pretty excited about the Wii. But if I am honest, it has nothing on my short time with the dolphins. I could have gone home, played my new game and then went to sleep, and I wouldn’t have even known what I was missing.

Don’t miss out on the “dolphins” this week because your preoccupied with the “Wii”.

Home is Where the Heart is

Published
by
Cover Judge
on November 15, 2006
in Writing
. 2 Comments

You don’t have a soul. You are a Soul. You have a body.

-C.S. Lewis

For the last 8 weeks I have been taking classes to be a certified marine naturalist with the American Cetacean Society. Trying to educate myself of marine mammals is small step I am taking toward being a better “caretaker” of this planet.

Tonight was the last night and I gave my talk on the 17,000 Pacific Gray Whales disappearing. I am sad the class is over but I am glad to have two nights a week back.

To close, the teacher of the class showed a personal slideshow of whales that live or pass through the western hemisphere that she had photographed. She got out the old slide projector and pull-down screen. Her pictures were stunning but it was something about the lights off, rounded corners, narration and the click of the projector changing slides that really “did it for me”.

Looking at pictures on someones laptop isn’t the same. I don’t know if it was just the projected image or the intimacy of someones home, but it made me feel comforted.

Day to day life in this disconnected digital world has a way sucking any activity, being, breath, brio, dash, energy, enthusiasm, entity, esprit, essence, excitement, get-up-and-go, go, growth, heart, high spirits, impulse, lifeblood, liveliness, oomph, sentience, soul, sparkle, spirit, verve, viability, vigor, vitality, vivacity, zest, zing, élan, élan vital* out of visiting Antartica or touching a newborn whale calf. Somehow Sarah’s** pictures tonight made it all real again and made me wanna be there instead of making sure i know the latest good music or if my jeans make me look cool.

We gotta spend less time on our “body” and spend more time on our soul.

*Synonyms for life from thesaurus.com
**fake name

Accidents > Creativity

Published
by
Cover Judge
on November 14, 2006
in Film, Guest, Music and Writing
. 2 Comments

The following post was written by a friend of mine on his facebook profile. We were recently discussing him starting a blog, which after reading this, I am convinced he should. He was always in a better english class than me. Plus his developed writing ability is accentuated with a whitty use of asterisks. I am posting it here, without permission.

Foreward; I will highlight any opinions in this note with an asterisk*

Most folks (including myself) are very passionate and opinionated about the TV shows, music, books and movies that they know and love. How many times a week do you hear “you have to see……..”. I know because I do it all the time.

Now I am certainly no expert in three of the four categories mentioned above (being and expert in tv shows sounds time consuming and unimportant*) But I would call myself somewhat of a POP music expert, or maybe a term that is 60% of an “expert”. Thats fine I’ll call myself a 60% expert in pop music*. When I say pop I do not simply mean Star 98.7 James Blunt pop (although that is included), I mean a very general category of all music that is of common knowledge that is not Jazz or Classical. The Beatles are pop, eminem is pop, indie undergound band called “Ashes Of November Northwest Art Band” are in this category as well*.

The reason I bring this up is because there are usually 2 kinds of people who listen to this music, and watch movies and so forth. There are those in category 1 who love simple funny movies , shows and music ex. (Tommy Boy, Friends, Green Day).* And there are those in category 2 who are able to look at creativity and context and draw on deeper things that are not as obvious and take thinking to grasp ex. (The Royal Tenenbaum’s, Arrested Development, Radiohead).* Those in category 2 can easily enjoy any of the entertainment that is in category 1 but I would not say that is goes vice versa. This is where someone like me openly admits that I am somewhat of a music snob.

When I say that I mean that more than most people I know I am able to listen to a song, and viciously break it down and fully understand all of the components of a song. I am able to single out the bass, listen to how the guitar is accenting the melody, drum patterns, vocal rhythms ect. The reason I am able to do this is because I take time to sit at the piano and learn the parts by ear, and then play my own arrangements of the songs I love. So I feel like I have a very good grasp about the level of creativity that a song possesses. but believe me I am also very much a category 1 person. I love the song “Holla Back Girl” by Gwen Stefani (however the beat to that song is definitely a category 2 drum beat, very original*).

I say all of this to make one point. Radiohead released an album in 1996 called O.K. Computer. It his hands down the best album of the 90’s* Read about it on wikipedia here; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O.k._comput…

Here is a quote from Rollingstone when the album was released

“Radiohead try too hard to be nonconformist — as if they’re embarrassed to just be pop — but ambition hardly makes them ogres. It makes them special.”

Okay we’re landing here. Track 1 of O.K computer is called Airbag. It has some intresting chord changes and is all around a great song. I have been listening to O.K. Computer for 4 years. It has never gotten old.
4 years.
hundreds of listens.
I break down songs, viciously.
4 years.

About a month ago I was listening to the song again for the umpteenth time (4 years) and something jumped out at me that absolutley changed my world. I had never before noticed that the bass line does not change. He does not follow the chordal structures of the song. He does not move with the guitar or vocal. He plays the same three notes over and over and over the entire song (with some rhythm changes) Nobody does that in pop music! Fu%$#ing mind blowing. Do you know how bad James Blunt’s Beautiful would sound if the bass player played the same thing over and over.* After discovering this and then listening to it over and over I came across a quote about Colin Greenwood, the bass player for Radiohead who wrote the song.

“Airbag is Colin’s own favorite of his bass lines. He has said that he played the distinctive fragments heard in the song and planned to come up with something to fill all the gaps, but never got around to it.”

And how glad am I that he didn’t. There it is. It happened on accident. Here I was thinking of how mind blowing it was that he decided to only play 3 notes and he did it on accident. The end result is still genius. I want accidents like that.

Thanks for listening to my musings.

Some peoples opinions carry a little more weight than others*.

Elton John Bans Religion

Published
by
Cover Judge
on November 13, 2006
in Celebrity, Music and Writing
. 0 Comments

Elton John enacted a verbal ban on religion today. Citing that religion creates hatred in people for gays, is un-compassionate, and does nothing about the conflicts of the world.

Except for the fact that religious charities receive the highest amount of contributions* that any other causes. And while PETA is taking naked pictures of Pam Anderson, the International Justice Mission is saving Indian girls from forced prostitution.

Elton showed himself to be pretty ignorant today, plus he’s gay so I hate him.

*$93.2 billion from Charity Navigator

Go God Go

Published
by
Cover Judge
on November 12, 2006
in Writing
. 1 Comment

Imagine there’s no countries
It isn’t hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace

- John Lennon, Imagine

I recently watched an episode of Southpark titled, “Go God Go.” I actually watched it because it was supposed to have funny stuff about the Nintendo Wii. It was a two-part series. The shows premise is that one of the characters wants to get a Wii, but can’t wait so he decides that he is going to freeze himself until it comes out. The other storyline is that evolution is starting to get taught in the local school. The teacher refuses and then falls in love with Richard Dawkins. She then inspires him to change the world. Flash forward 500 years and the world has changed and Cartman (i think) has just been unfroze. He finds a world without religion. Instead of peace and nirvana, he learns different atheist factions are at war with each other over differing answers to “the great question” (not 42). We learn in the end of the 2nd part that the great question is what to call their movement. They are fighting between names like the Atheist Alliance and the Association of Atheists. An old wise man of one of the groups comes out and tries to get everyone to realize the folly of their ways, instead they kill him and a member of the group says this line:

Using logic and reason isn’t enough you have to be a d#$% to anyone who doesn’t think like you

Initially, this sounds like a classic attack on christianity, but if you look deeper there is more too it. The point being made here isn’t “religion is wrong”. In fact, it is the opposite. They are saying, “religion isn’t the problem, people are.”

Religion doesn’t start wars, people start wars in the name of religion or ideology or money or time machines to go back and kill dinosaurs to make more oil. Take a guess what would make the world a better place…a world without guns or God or money? We’ve all heard those answers. Nope, a world without us, sadly, would be perfect. Am I saying give up, there is nothing we can do to improve the quality of this short life?

Nope, there is just nothing we can do within ourselves.