For 2016, a new short story every month

For 2016, a new short story every month

Posted inUncategorized, Writing
I'm blessed that writing (sort of)(barely) pays the bills. But one result of taking something you love and turning it into work is that it becomes an obligation rather than an escape. You HAVE to do that if you want to make a living from it, of course -- I would have faltered years ago if I didn't decide that I had to prioritize writing in the same way you do any other job -- but you lose a little of what drew you to it in the first place. For me, it was the joy of playing with words;…
Why did Boardwalk Empire lose me?

Why did Boardwalk Empire lose me?

Posted inTelevision
Boardwalk Empire. Oh man, everything about it was right up my alley. It was a well-polished period piece with smart writing, great actors, the involvement of Martin Scorsese, gangsters, and it was set here in my home state of New Jersey. Plus, I've said before that HBO does awesome television. So why the hell didn't it click with me? And I mean, it TOTALLY didn't click with me. I only made it halfway through the first season. Like anyone with as lick of sense, I loved the setting. Great production values, great cast, great premise, and the pilot episode was pure Scorsese,…
These are the 5 Best Christmas Songs. Deal with it

These are the 5 Best Christmas Songs. Deal with it

Posted inMusic, Videos
Look, if we're honest with ourselves, Christmas songs kind of suck. "White Christmas" is an exception because it has one of the greatest melodies ever written -- that's an objective FACT -- but otherwise? Christmas music is awful, awful, awful. There are exceptions, though, and I've identified the five best, because I am awesome. Not as awesome as these Christmas songs, but it's pretty damn close. 6) U2 - Christmas, (Baby Please Come Home) You thought this list was going to be "edgy," right? (Get it?) This one throws that assumption right out the window (though admittedly, it's a red…
I’ve got to get the hell off Facebook

I’ve got to get the hell off Facebook

Posted inRants, Uncategorized
More and more these days, I'm finding myself reconsidering my relationship with Facebook. It has nothing to do with privacy issues (though they are quite real), Facebook's sketchy business practices (ditto), or a desire to have a smaller Internet footprint (as an author, I actually need a larger Internet footprint). It's not even because I do social media marketing on a freelance basis, and hence burn myself out on surfing Facebook (I do it under a different account than my personal account, anyway). It's because the atmosphere is turning me into the kind of negative, cynical, angry person I long…
REVIEW: Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back

REVIEW: Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back

Posted inFilms
Technically, I wrote this review 10 years ago for a site called DVDinmyPants.com. That site is long gone, though (you can only find it on the Wayback Machine), and since this is the greatest review in the history of film reviews (and also because of Star Wars mania right now), I'm reposting it here. It's purposely over the top, but also completely  sincere: The Empire Strikes Back Let’s cut right to the chase: I fall into the camp that declares The Empire Strikes Back the best of the Star Wars films. Which means I also fall into the camp of people…