Stop sharing city names, states!!

If you live in Massachusetts & someone says “Charlestown” you think, okay, I know where that is, it’s that impossible to get in or out of little nook next to Boston. Fair enough.

But if you live NEAR Rhode Island or are in RI & someone says “Charlestown” & you think of that little nook, you are thinking of the wrong Charlestown, bitches! I didn’t think King Charles (either of them, or any of them, were there 3? How many got executed? Chuck I & II? I’m fuzzy on my monarchy from the 1600s, what of it??) was popular enough to merit all these cities & towns being named in his honor. At the very least you’d think they’d change the name after they lopped off his head. “Hear ye, hear ye, good residents of Charlestown, due to the king’s treason as decided upon by the great Lord Protectorate Oliver Cromwell, this fair city shall now be called Olivertown or Cromwellville, a vote shall be taken by all land owning men on the morrow. Fare thee well.”

For weeks, my mentor/instructor/audio engineering teacher has mentioned his summer place in Charlestown right on the water. MA’s Charlestown is by water so that’s where I thought he was talking about. He showed me a picture of a house on his street & I thought, hmm, that looks more like Marshfield than Charlestown but maybe there’s parts of C-town that I’ve never been to. It’s possible, I don’t go there often except for that time I temped there for 3 months & then it was just in & out during traffic times. Thought, get out of me head. Done.

Anyway, I recently was talked about said temp job with my mentor & he asked which C-town, MA or RI, I was referring to, I was like the original one in MA, duh! Then he said I think the original one is in South Carolina, to which I replied I think that’s technically Charleston not CharlesTOWN, this making all the difference & he was like, I dunno.

But I’m right, aren’t I? SC has Charleston, NC has Charlotte (the feminine of Charles, I know).  How did we run out of names for places so quick when we were founding this country? I know we “borrowed” a bunch of names from England but that’s ok, England was a whole ocean away & not easy to get to back then. Plus, the colonists often stuck a “NEW” in front to distinguish. 

/rant over.

Tong Ren Therapy

Tong Ren Therapy is amazing!

It uses collective consciousness to heal. I've been to quite a few sessions with Tom Tam, the creator of Tong Ren, as well as smaller classes with students of his. I always feel better when I leave; it's a positive & uplifting experience.

The main center is located in Quincy, MA but there are classes available all over. I'm going to a new (to me) one this Thursday.

People have talked about their cancerous tumors decreasing in size due to Tong Ren therapy much to the amazement of their doctors. Tom Tam also works with the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. If you are looking for alternative therapies for ANYTHING (cancer, pain, arthritis, MS, mental health issues, weight management, the list is endless) ailing you, this is for you.

Classes are also available online. All you need is yourself. No equipment necessary just a willingness to be healed.

Things I think

In the time between thinking about writing this blog post & turning on the computer & getting to the page to write it, I'm pretty sure I've lost at least half the "things I think." Oh well. Something's better than nothing.

• I think creative people are inherently fragile.
• I think creative people occasionally suffer from crippling anxiety.
• I think if you don't suffer from crippling anxiety once in a while, you're not as creative as you think you are.
• I think peanut butter is the nectar of the gods.
• I think it's more important to have written a book than written a movie even if more people will see the move than read the book.
• I think it's easy to give advice & incredibly hard to take it.
• I think if it were easy, anyone could do it. (from TV show Justified but I agree)
• I think nine times out of ten, people would prefer the easy way.
• I think having a pet is good for your health.
• I think I have better taste in music than you.
• I think I better taste in movies than you.
• I think I have better taste in TV shows than you.
• I think I'm a bit of a snob when it comes to subjective tastes.
• I think it's important to let out that which you have been holding in.
• I think all politicians end up corrupt &/or morally bankrupt, but not all of them start out that way.
• I think our government is bloated, sluggish & it's time to make a change.
• I think we will not attempt to change our government until it is too late.
• I think our public education system is inherently flawed.
• I think teachers are amazing people & under-appreciated.
• I think it's important to never stop learning.
• I think it's important to eventually leave school (graduate, go on sabbatical, whatever) & start actually living before it's too late.
• I think people need to step outside their comfort zones.
• I think our health care system is a joke.
• I think insurance is a scam.
• I think inspection stickers are a racket.
• I think it's easy to become swayed by other people's opinions.
• I think it's important to know how to defend oneself, physically, emotionally & mentally.

School

This week will be my fourth session in my Audio Engineering course. It is not easy.. Every week the reading requires all my attention & I find doing my homework takes a lot longer than I expect. I have to keep reminding myself it's been 10 years (eep!) since I graduated college & had to study regularly. It's like a shock to the system trying to rewire my brain back to study mode.

Another challenging factor is this is an engineering course & I've never studied anything like this before. At first I felt like Chevy Chase as Gerald Ford on SNL, "I was told there would be no math." It's a lot of very technical jargon that takes me multiple readings to wrap my brain around. Some weeks I get discouraged & when I do, I pick up the phone & call someone like my mom or my best friend & talk about how I feel. I used to keep everything bottled up inside which never did me any good & thankfully I learned from my past mistakes & share my feelings whether they are positive or negative.

Reactions to this year's Golden Globes TV nominations

Best Television Series - Drama
American Horror Story
Boardwalk Empire
Boss
Game of Thrones
Homeland

My reactions: Ok, I watch AHS but it's not THAT amazing & sometimes it's downright terrible but in a very fun way, like "can you believe they did THAT?" Can't get myself to care about BE. Don't watch Boss, don't want to watch it either. LOVE GAME OF THRONES & want it to win. Have heard nothing but amazing things about Homeland & now have to marathon the whole season. Also, please note all of the shows are on cable. Where's the love for network dramas? There are a few good ones still on the air & could even be awardworthy. Mostly though: FAIL. 

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama
Steve Buscemi (Boardwalk Empire)
Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad)
Jeremy Irons (The Borgias)
Kelsey Grammer (Boss)
Damian Lewis (Homeland)

SB: Meh. BC: Understood. JI: He's usually amazing so I get the nom even though the show looked ridiculously over the top. KG: I have read he's very good on this show even though it doesn't interest me in the slightest. DL: Is consistently believable & wonderful in everything I've ever seen him in from Band of Brothers to the short-lived drama Life for which he also should've received accolades. Partial FAIL.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama
Claire Danes (Homeland)
Mirelle Enos (The Killing)
Julianna Margulies (The Good Wife)
Madeline Stowe (Revenge)
Callie Thorne (Necessary Roughness)

CD: Heard she is the shit on that show. Again, must watch soon so as not to be left behind. ME: Thought about watching that show, decided against it. It's a remake so I'll just go watch the original version. JM: perenial nom & she's good in everything usually even if I don't watch her show. Which I should because Josh Charles is on it & he equals YUM. I've heard MS is the reason to watch Revenge even though I personally do not. I've never liked CT since she was awful on Homicide way back when & her new show looks like fluffy nothingness. If a USA female lead was going to get nominated I'd have picked Mary McCormack from In Plain Sight, which is a good show. PASS for three good noms out of five.

Best Television Series - Musical or Comedy
Enlightened
Episodes
Glee
Modern Family
New Girl

I may not be able to type coherently as I'm currently blinded with rage over Community's epic snub. At least there's a mix of cable & network shows on this list. That said, is Enlightened even a comedy & does anyone even watch that show? Whatever! Episodes was a pretty funny show but more uneven that deserves awarding. Plus, it probably won't even get picked up for a second season so why bother? It's probably on the list because the leads (aside from Matt LeBlanc who was hysterical on the show & deserves many awards for his work there) & writers are British & people tend to thing Brits are funnier than Yanks (I agree that Brits tend to be very funny but they are two very different senses of humor which actually the show called attention to in funny & innovative ways). Glee is not really funny & has more up & downs than a yo-yo. Now if it were up for Best Musical Performances in a Show That is Not Really a Comedy then I'd be fine with their now but they're not. I think MF is a great show & I've heard good things about New Girl but really Community not being on the list shows what a SHAM the Golden Globes are as an awards show. Suck it, Globes. EPIC FAIL.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy
Laura Dern (Enlightened)
Tina Fey (30 Rock)
Laura Linney (The Big C)
Amy Poehler (Parks & Recreation)
Zooey Deschanel (New Girl)

Oh boy here we go again. LD & LL shouldn't be nominated in this category. At all. If anything their shows are dramedy's which I'm thinking needs a category of its own, Glee could go there too. TF is always nominated & very talented even though I only catch her show sporadically. AP is amazing on P&R & deserves all accolades headed her way (especially for nabbing Will Arnett as a husband, SCORE! ZD is just riding the wave of hype that her show is currently enjoying. There are no real leads on Community so I can see why they didn't score a nom here but there are funny ladies on other shows more deserving than some of these ladies. Could go either way: PASS/FAIL.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy
Alec Baldwin (30 Rock)
David Duchovny (Californication)
Johnny Galecki (The Big Bang Theory)
Thomas Jane (Hung)
Matt LeBlanc (Episodes)

AB: Typical, always nom. DD: Eh, I've heard he's good on that show but I don't watch it so I can't really comment. I loved his work on X-Files & the few non genre movies I saw him in so I buy he has the talent deserving a nom. JG: Whatever, people like that show & he's sup[posed to be good on it. I don't know. TJ is the one really taking Joel McHale's nom for Community. TJ is a punchline in real life & while funny in a cameo on Arrested Development back in the day isn't exactly stirring up buzz or talk for his work on a show I honestly forgot was even still on the air. Grrr, to no nom for any male on Community. FAIL FAIL FAIL.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones)
Paul Giamatti (Too Big to Fail)
Guy Pearce (Mildred Pierce)
Tim Robbins (Cinema Verite)
Eric Stonestreet (Modern Family)


I hate that they mas-up these all into one award. It's so unfair to the actors & actresses. I think it's to shorten the length of the broadcast but it's the detriment of Supporting Players on regular TV shows, drama & comedy. Mini-series & movies made for TV always attract big stars in awards-baiting performances, & the truly deserving have to make due with hopefully getting one of the two or three noms left over. Lame. That said, PD was amazing as Tyrion Lannister & deserves any awards that come his way. I'd have also nominated Sean Bean as Eddard Stark & even whoever played Joffrey that spoiled little bitch of a King from GoT. ES is great on MF but so are the other men in supporting roles & equally deserving on a nom. Didn't Ty Burrell just win the Emmy? Where's the love for the amazing supporting actors on a little show called Community? Whatever. FAIL.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Jessica Lange (American Horror Story)
Kelly MacDonald (Boardwalk Empire)
Maggie Smith (Downton Abbey)
Sofia Vergara (Modern Family)
Evan Rachel Wood (Mildred Pierce)

Again, confusing & weird mash up of what should be three separate categories. Maggie Smith will most likely win as she is a force of nature & just unbelievably awesome all around & on DT. Eh, I can't even be botherered to rant against this catergory. It's so uneven. Stupid Golden Globes. FAIL.

The only reason to watch the GG is to see the clothes the stars wear & watch them get drunk on TV & then speak publicly. It's always more fun that the Oscars that way.  If I have the energy I'll comment on their movie noms on a day or two.

eBooks versus physical books

To be perfectly honest, I don't buy the eBooks I read. I find free versions online & yeah, they tend to have typos & whatnot but I don't usually mind. The brain is amazing in what it's able to comprehend & it's rarely confusing when there's no period at the end of a sentence or there are random exclamation points in the place of lower case Ls.

I started out borrowing audiobooks on cd or Playaways at the library in Braintree but I have yet to visit the library where I live now. I refuse to buy audiobooks on principle because they are so expensive & since they are easily available at the library or online, why bother? My new mentor, Tony, loves audible.com. I keep thinking about that & might subscribe there in the future.

That said, I just went to Sony Reader eStore to look into buying the third book in George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice & Fire (Game of Thrones is book 1) series. I also looked at Amazon for the paperback price. They are exactly the same cost: $8.99. I'm buying the paperback version. To me there's no question, always get the tactile version if they cost the same. eBooks need to cost less than their physical counterparts otherwise what's the point? I feel really strongly about this. People are spending lots of money on their eBook reader of choice & there are a lot of choices out there. Personally, I used to read books on my old Palm Treo phone back in the before-times. Luckily for me, my awesome & generous sister-in-law passes on her old Sony Readers to me so I don't have to spend oodles of money on one. For around two years I had an older version of the Sony Reader & it did me just fine. This Thanksgiving, she gave me an upgrade to the Sony Reader Touch edition & it's smaller & lighter than the last one which I'm re-gifting to a fellow reader. I can't say whom because that would spoil the surprise!

The reason I went looking for it at all is because I couldn't find a free version (ePub which is the file type I tend to read otherwise I go PDF or even audiobooks for which I use the same method of finding selections) online, the files had all been deleted - which I totally understand. I get that what I'm doing doesn't put money in the pockets of authors. But the way I look at it, this way I get to test out & try new (to me) authors & see if I like them. If I do & want to keep these books or share them with a friend, I will go buy a physical copy, usually paperback or trade paperback which is slightly larger & costs a few dollars more. I rarely want a hardcover book unless it's an all-time fave book or author (like Dennis Lehane - LOVE!). They are too unwieldy when trying to read them & too heavy to carry around conveniently.

Which gets me back to the convenience & portability of eReaders & why the prices for their content needs to go down. I understand charging 8-10 bucks for an electronic version of a new hardcover release but there is no reason that a paperback book should cost the same electronically & physically. I won't pay that kind of money for an e version so I'm going to keep doing what I've been doing, reading free copies.

A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin

A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this book. Words can't express how moving it is. Yes, it's long & involved, but each section is relevant & necessary. The best way to describe how good it is is to tell you how much I feel for certain characters & how much I dislike to the point of hate other characters. Things happen in the book that I wish didn't, but that is also true in life. It's not fair, the "good guys" don't always win & sometimes there are good & bad people on both sides.

I didn't read this book, I listened to the audio production as I did for the first book in the series. The reader is incredible, he does a great job of creating different voices & accents for different characters & somehow manages to keep them all straight even though there is a large cast of characters. It ends on a positive note where the first book ended in a more depressing manner. Yes, tragedies have occurred & destruction has been wrought, but, well, I don't want to give anything away because I want you all to read this series.

View all my reviews