Monday, July 14, 2008
Wicked Tinkers On Craig Fergusson
Ok, I'm just a heathen who likes bagpipes and the Wicked Tinkers are one of my faves. I've seen them in Rio Rancho at the Highland Cames and in Tulsa. The drummer with the long hair is hot! Catch Craig Fergusson jamming with the Wicked Tinkers on his show. Way too much fun! It was great the first time I saw it and is still great fun now.
Friday, July 11, 2008
Beyond Usual Boundaries
I was reading an acquaintance's blog today and got pissed. Almost as pissed as his wife who is a dear & beloved friend of mine.
The guy writes and is a BNW in his trade and I've been a fan for years. He's on tour to flog his books, meet fans and publisher types in Europe at the moment because that's part of his job. So he posts a few nice comments about how good the food is among other things. Yet,instead of people -- some of his other fans -- being glad for him about his trip and new discoveries (which may perhaps contribute some measure of inspiration and insight for something they may read later),they're nagging him.... about their expectations that he finish the set of books he started years ago, to meet their desires for what they want, when they want it. Instant gratification and all that.
And I'm thinkin' some unpleasant thought about this. What they're asking for is perfection. This guy's a great damn writer -- and he is slow. I've known that since the mid 70s. It's his process. I read the first book in the set and reckoned the telling may take 15 years or maybe some more. That's groovy and I'm normally a results kinda gal in other things. This guy's not the Kinkaid of writing, factory churning out boilerplate books like Kinkaid does his paintings along with a large team of other hired artists and technicians copying and pressing as he goes along adding swooshes of paint here and there to canvases of those pretty houses in the woods swathed in light. Gag me. I'm thinkin' "Fuck y'all, ya clods.." Theres nothing like being sick to have things that irritate ya come to a hot head of steam.
And I went off.... "you go into any working painters, sculptors, seamstress, or any other kind of creative artists studio and you will see not just one, but maybe even dozens of projects in various stages of progress and development. When musicians of all stripes go on tour, they are leaving some of their studio projects unfinished so they can earn their bread and butter that fuels the 'studio' time..."
When did people forget that writing stories evolve? That stories can take lives of their own and not follow "the plan". And ya can't force them back into it either. Tom Robbins has 5, 6 years between some of his novels. Ok, they're not serialized, but so what? The stuff my guy's writing is meatier and more nuanced, too. Let me get this right -- you want my guy to write a great, award winning story that keeps you turning the pages to the end yet he's gotta churn it out like Krispie Kremes or a Thomas "master-of-mass-reproduction-genuine-painting-light" Kinkaid?
ACK! Civilization has ended! Y'all have given me proof!
So I fired into the crowd.
I hope my friend forgives me.
The guy writes and is a BNW in his trade and I've been a fan for years. He's on tour to flog his books, meet fans and publisher types in Europe at the moment because that's part of his job. So he posts a few nice comments about how good the food is among other things. Yet,instead of people -- some of his other fans -- being glad for him about his trip and new discoveries (which may perhaps contribute some measure of inspiration and insight for something they may read later),they're nagging him.... about their expectations that he finish the set of books he started years ago, to meet their desires for what they want, when they want it. Instant gratification and all that.
And I'm thinkin' some unpleasant thought about this. What they're asking for is perfection. This guy's a great damn writer -- and he is slow. I've known that since the mid 70s. It's his process. I read the first book in the set and reckoned the telling may take 15 years or maybe some more. That's groovy and I'm normally a results kinda gal in other things. This guy's not the Kinkaid of writing, factory churning out boilerplate books like Kinkaid does his paintings along with a large team of other hired artists and technicians copying and pressing as he goes along adding swooshes of paint here and there to canvases of those pretty houses in the woods swathed in light. Gag me. I'm thinkin' "Fuck y'all, ya clods.." Theres nothing like being sick to have things that irritate ya come to a hot head of steam.
And I went off.... "you go into any working painters, sculptors, seamstress, or any other kind of creative artists studio and you will see not just one, but maybe even dozens of projects in various stages of progress and development. When musicians of all stripes go on tour, they are leaving some of their studio projects unfinished so they can earn their bread and butter that fuels the 'studio' time..."
When did people forget that writing stories evolve? That stories can take lives of their own and not follow "the plan". And ya can't force them back into it either. Tom Robbins has 5, 6 years between some of his novels. Ok, they're not serialized, but so what? The stuff my guy's writing is meatier and more nuanced, too. Let me get this right -- you want my guy to write a great, award winning story that keeps you turning the pages to the end yet he's gotta churn it out like Krispie Kremes or a Thomas "master-of-mass-reproduction-genuine-painting-light" Kinkaid?
ACK! Civilization has ended! Y'all have given me proof!
So I fired into the crowd.
I hope my friend forgives me.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Helms Unlamented Here
Seems other folks didn't think honoring Helms was a good idea either. This fella in Helms' home state took an early retirement instead of following a state directive to fly the flag at half staff.
Funny Thing About The Armageddon Rag
I clicked on The Armageddon Rag in my books list which brought me to a short list of 3 people including myself who like this book. The kicker is this: all three of us are Virgos. George, who wrote the book, is also a Virgo. I am charmed & amused by the coincidence.
BTW, the Rag is back in print and can be bought through Amazon.com or your local bookseller. It is so worth the read!
BTW, the Rag is back in print and can be bought through Amazon.com or your local bookseller. It is so worth the read!
Corvus Corax
Sometimes wandering around the web, one falls into some interesting sweet spots. For me, this means discovering Corvus Corax, from Germany! They're marvelous and the old sca'er in me is frelling delighted at the twist of using medieval instruments and rockin' out with a chorus and orchestra. Ya gotta know your music to get away with stuff like that!
Wednesday, July 09, 2008
Election News Plug
Let's Get Obama Elected!
I've joined Off The Bus which is doing citizen based election writing, commentary and reporting. I've been going on about politics here for some time and this election, I believe, will set the tone for the direction the US will be go in over then next 25-50 years. I'm hopeful that the direction is one that is healing to the country, brings our soldiers back home in a safe, sensible and timely manner, helps restore our "good name" internationally and lets us refocus on our domestic concerns. That is why I've been supporting Obama as long as I have.
Visit OffTheBus
Saturday, July 05, 2008
Free Speech
Friday, July 04, 2008
Adios Helms, You SOB
Jessie Helms died today. I'm delighted he will be pushing daisies from now on. His racist past will live on so he will not end up as one of America's revered elder statesmen. I'm so glad.
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