tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1780079575107265536.comments2012-05-14T14:06:45.970-04:00My World UnraveledSarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09873391032019077936noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1780079575107265536.post-22606244539688854482012-05-14T14:06:45.970-04:002012-05-14T14:06:45.970-04:00Amen on #4.Amen on #4.5kmommyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12784908100998692068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1780079575107265536.post-74655359779975130462011-07-21T22:50:29.402-04:002011-07-21T22:50:29.402-04:00I will definitely miss the shows that expand my mi...I will definitely miss the shows that expand my mind... I daresay that besides my guilty indulgence (WWE) most of what I watched lived in the History International, Nat Geo, and Discovery spheres. Well, that and wherever Law & Order was playing. <br /><br />I'm not interested in ditching entertainment, by any means. I love a good story and sometimes I want to be entertained. I think a larger part of our experiment is the whole 'cutting the cord' value wise. Most things I want to watch I can get online or on Hulu only a few days after broadcast (sooner with favs like Jon Stewart). Documentaries, series, older movies all live in Netflix streaming for cheap. When I want to rent, I have an AppleTV with selection as good as any Blockbuster I've used.<br /><br />So the question became... Why cable? And if I had to think about what I wanted to watch, make a point of picking something rather than just channel surfing, would I watch as much? Might I pick up more books? Enjoy the outdoors a little more? <br /><br />So for me it isn't a lack of desire for free time, nor is it disillusionment with tv as a whole (okay, if I have to watch any more "So You Think You Can Dance" I might go a little crazy...) but rather a desire to force me to open up my recreation time to things that are still fun and lazy and enjoyable, just a bit beyond my sofa.<br /><br />And I will have furniture in there again soon. Oh yes.steve.mikulichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13334053561276853201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1780079575107265536.post-43777551541869216792011-07-21T22:30:45.319-04:002011-07-21T22:30:45.319-04:00I appreciate the heartfelt comments. It's very...I appreciate the heartfelt comments. It's very cool to see how others feel. I do want to reiterate that I don't think that television is the great evil or an idiot box. There have been some compelling story lines for television: Six Feet Under and Sopranos, to name two. Nor am I saying that watching TV is a bad thing or that down time is a bad thing. I think Jessi has a great point: we Americans do tend to feel guilty about our free time. And Sudrin, you are also correct in saying that in this day and age, we are inundated with information and entertainment. <br /><br />I think for me, personally, it became a distraction that also triggered some bad habits. I have little free time already to focus on my writing-- at least, if I want to remain plugged in to real life relationships and have energy to help keep house with my husband. We haven't cut out movies entirely. We still have Apple TV and a Netflix subscription. I'm just cutting down on some bloat that, in my eyes, was an easy excuse to not do something I really want to finish. <br /><br />I appreciate your input. It's given me some thought.Sarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11189509555875776927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1780079575107265536.post-27507523669503653242011-07-21T16:50:04.457-04:002011-07-21T16:50:04.457-04:00I have a mixed reaction to this news as well, but ...I have a mixed reaction to this news as well, but if it's improving your life, I'm for it. Only you know what is best for you. It seems you thought out the decision and executed it together, and that's what matters. <br /><br />I have so little free time at home and am incredibly discerning about what TV shows I'll invest that time in. Making such a cut in my life wouldn't make too large a dent, and in the end would deprive me of one of the only low stress activities I have at the moment. I try to indulge myself in a few of these "time for nothing" activities in order to balance my life, without them I think I'd burn out quickly. <br /><br />At a recent conference I attended the keynote (Herb Broda – Professor of Education, Ashland University) discussed the "nothing time" concept and how our society has devalued and slandered the concept for years. Plainly put, we don't take time to watch the trees sway and we feel guilty/lazy when we just sit and take time for ourselves. Americans, he says, putting too much emphasis on a scheduled and regimented life. Herb even presented research to support the health benefits of balancing life in this way, and I've been much more intentional about allowing myself this kind of "nothing time" since hearing him speak.<br /><br />In the end it sounds like a bold and brave move on your part and I'm anxious to hear how it progresses. I trust you find relaxation and balance in other areas and look forward to hearing about all the the exciting projects accomplished with your new found time. Best of luck!Jessihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00609615590053410921noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1780079575107265536.post-50105731886740221342011-07-21T11:36:29.743-04:002011-07-21T11:36:29.743-04:00While I applaud your experiment, I think the vilif...While I applaud your experiment, I think the vilification of Television is overdone. I certainly appreciate the fact that it has improved your efforts in other areas and that is a laudable goal.<br /><br />The pacification you mention is a product of the world we live in. Our parents have raised us with the idea that reading more = smarter and watching tv = dumb. I could find 24 hours of television every day that would expland your mind just as much as a book would, but somehow it remains the "idiot box".<br /><br />If anything now the thing we are pacified by is the constant stream of information provided by the internet. Constantly refreshing CNN.com for the latest bit of news/weather/information/school closing.<br /><br />There are certainly other benefits to cutting the cord though. That goes without saying. Cable Television, as well as Netflix, and other information providers are experiencing a financial heyday and customers are only now coming around to the fact that they don't need to pay the high costs associated with it every month. I read a statistic the other day that said "Cord Cutting" could reach 10% by 2015. That might be some bogus stat-for-stats sake-ery but there certainly is a trend away from giving Comcast, Cox or Time Warner a large cut of your monthly income.<br /><br />In the end though, I suppose I don't believe that the "next big thing" is the evil that has come along to mollify us into lambs to an information slaughter. I just think that as the world around us changes, we change with it. It makes the past harder to compare against the present and although we change and evolve as a culture, I don't believe we evolve away from some core goodness or inteligence. We just evolve into what we are going to be nextSudrinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06936925725232695098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1780079575107265536.post-19182530963517589712011-05-03T12:06:01.425-04:002011-05-03T12:06:01.425-04:00Oh that is a sensational comment. I especially lov...Oh that is a sensational comment. I especially love how you point out our love of mirrors in writing/movies, and how catching glimpses of ourselves and our humanity, the darker parts, is still something we can relate to but also appreciate the good in ourselves because of. Well said.Sarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09873391032019077936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1780079575107265536.post-30493302818421159982011-05-03T11:26:55.170-04:002011-05-03T11:26:55.170-04:00I think part of it has to do with the "Streng...I think part of it has to do with the "Strength" we find in villainy. That uncaged passion allows you the ability to break down barriers you might not be able to before. There was an old episode of Star Trek where through some absurd technological accident Kirk got split into two. As a pure evil and pure good character he was unable to function, but together the two sides gave him a strength to act. Because the world we live in is not black and white, we need to be able to tap the "Evil" in ourselves to survive and make the decisions our "Good" side couldn't make for a greater good. That inner voice also provides some balance for your good side to make sense of the consequences of poor or evil decisions. Spacey's "John Doe" points out to us, even in his evil, the conflicts we face in our daily lives. Through him we can come to our own conclusions about how to solve those problems.Sudrinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06936925725232695098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1780079575107265536.post-29130916830639651862011-04-20T12:34:20.022-04:002011-04-20T12:34:20.022-04:00That's his ideal day, I swear. hahaha. Maybe a...That's his ideal day, I swear. hahaha. Maybe add a movie in there too.Marcus Stricklinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01846755448694397566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1780079575107265536.post-52809667077775549922011-04-20T11:52:44.445-04:002011-04-20T11:52:44.445-04:00Video games, candy, and karate. That's a good ...Video games, candy, and karate. That's a good day's agenda in my book.Sarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09873391032019077936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1780079575107265536.post-4746501661052502602011-04-20T11:48:12.468-04:002011-04-20T11:48:12.468-04:00Agreed, my kid would sorely miss me, but would enj...Agreed, my kid would sorely miss me, but would enjoy buying all of the video games/candy/trips to china he could (to learn karate).Marcus Stricklinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01846755448694397566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1780079575107265536.post-44180642708972279962011-04-20T11:43:57.701-04:002011-04-20T11:43:57.701-04:00*laughs* I hear ya. I think I would choose moderat...*laughs* I hear ya. I think I would choose moderately wealthy. I think my kids and grandkids might benefit from an estate born of my writing if I chose to be known posthumously, and that is tempting, but I do so love to spend money now...Sarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09873391032019077936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1780079575107265536.post-49064141624261321332011-04-20T11:42:08.928-04:002011-04-20T11:42:08.928-04:00Although it sounds great to be remember posthumous...Although it sounds great to be remember posthumously.... I think being known for what I do would be cool to experience while I am alive. Money isn't the most important thing, but to have my work appreciated while I'm alive would be pretty awesome.Marcus Stricklinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01846755448694397566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1780079575107265536.post-47900661722986470792011-04-20T09:31:47.462-04:002011-04-20T09:31:47.462-04:00Hi JF, I will definitely have to check that story ...Hi JF, I will definitely have to check that story out, especially if it's a perspective shift that gets the reader emotionally in touch with the narrator. It sounds powerful. Is that your favorite reveal?Sarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09873391032019077936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1780079575107265536.post-46579204704308664972011-04-19T23:53:59.444-04:002011-04-19T23:53:59.444-04:00interesting post. just read a story, "Furhter...interesting post. just read a story, "Furhter Interpretationsof Real-life Events" by Kevin Moffett [best amer short stories 2010], that seems on first read to end without revealing; but emotionally, last lines make pieces of narrator emotionally fall into place for reader. The story's about loss but also about writing too. JFJFhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05163744586139509536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1780079575107265536.post-57585061745819671252011-04-19T14:33:17.329-04:002011-04-19T14:33:17.329-04:00I look forward to that day. Fondly. I can see it o...I look forward to that day. Fondly. I can see it off in the horizon. Hopefully one day soon I can reach it. And I hope the same for you!!!!Marcus Stricklinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01846755448694397566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1780079575107265536.post-11736624601201259812011-04-19T14:08:08.351-04:002011-04-19T14:08:08.351-04:00That is awesome. It sounds like you have prioritiz...That is awesome. It sounds like you have prioritized your time so that you can focus on your writing. I have issues with work bleeding into my home life and I have to put up a solid defense against it. It took me a while to figure that out. Hopefully we both will have that day where we can say sayonara to the corporate job and focus full-time on our writing. ;) <br /><br />Thank you so much for the comment!Sarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09873391032019077936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1780079575107265536.post-74176272914272565542011-04-19T13:19:45.628-04:002011-04-19T13:19:45.628-04:00My job is the ONLY area, and certainly am looking ...My job is the ONLY area, and certainly am looking to rid my life of that<br /><br />And time slipping, not so much. I set aside 3 hours per afternoon to solely focus on writing (since I work super early and off at noon, I write after a sweet power nap).Marcus Stricklinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01846755448694397566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1780079575107265536.post-11343085153278774842011-04-19T10:11:11.593-04:002011-04-19T10:11:11.593-04:00Thank you, Marcus! Are there areas in your life wh...Thank you, Marcus! Are there areas in your life where the temperature has gradually been turned up?Sarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09873391032019077936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1780079575107265536.post-45536899740744892442011-04-19T10:08:54.225-04:002011-04-19T10:08:54.225-04:00Very excellent. Well written. Great advice to live...Very excellent. Well written. Great advice to live by!Marcus Stricklinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01846755448694397566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1780079575107265536.post-39285324265645432552011-04-18T10:41:15.571-04:002011-04-18T10:41:15.571-04:00I agree that the author should engage the reader&#...I agree that the author should engage the reader's trust and keep it, not only with solid writing but with emotional sincerity. I also agree that reveals can be gimmicky, but I do think that a reveal can be good in a book. However, the writer has to credit the reader for being intelligent for it to work. It's the writer's job to make sure that if there is going to be a reveal, that they lay the groundwork with evidence throughout the story, and then in the final act, provide the last bit of information that allows for a shift in perspective where all of the pieces can be seen. The reveal shouldn't suddenly materialize. It's insulting to the reader. But when done right, it can be rewarding. I think mysteries and thrillers especially thrive on that turn in the third act. <br /><br />Do you have a favorite reveal in a story? A moment when the story turned and the protagonist suddenly had the information he or she needed to resolve the conflict that you found satisfying?Sarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09873391032019077936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1780079575107265536.post-56051256178705415882011-04-18T10:14:16.722-04:002011-04-18T10:14:16.722-04:00This reminds me in a strange way of the very oppos...This reminds me in a strange way of the very opposite of this which I always find to be one of the worst writers crutches there is. Whenever an author wants to hide something from the reader for a big payoff later. For example: "Okay Guys, here's what we will do....". But then the author fails to reveal what this secret strategy was until the payoff comes at a later time. I almost immediately lose interest in whatever it is. What you are talking about builds a trust between the writer and the reader, and really does make you want to keep reading. The other just makes you want to skip ahead to see what all the whispering was.Sudrinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06936925725232695098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1780079575107265536.post-21400045680819208752011-04-17T09:25:17.642-04:002011-04-17T09:25:17.642-04:00The Gremlin sounds like a critic who takes much pl...The Gremlin sounds like a critic who takes much pleasure in thwarting. How do you combat him? Do you have any rituals or mantras you use to keep him quiet or to survive his tirades?Sarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09873391032019077936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1780079575107265536.post-68649774818413449192011-04-17T09:13:57.137-04:002011-04-17T09:13:57.137-04:00I can especially relate to the Critic, which I lik...I can especially relate to the Critic, which I like to call the Gremlin.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1780079575107265536.post-62210107434024450542011-04-04T10:19:39.812-04:002011-04-04T10:19:39.812-04:00you are invited to follow my blogyou are invited to follow my blogSteve Finnellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15041851737677873347noreply@blogger.com