Chas tagged me. The idea is to photograph the books you’re reading or (in my case anyway) about to read (or mean to read). On the Bookcrossing forums they call this Mount TBR (To Be Read).
Tuesday Trivia: The Whedonverse in Numbers
In Deborah’s absence, here’s a little trivia quiz for the Joss fans out there:
- 1630 Revello, Buffy’s residence [solved by Maurinsky]
- 2517: the year in which Firefly is set [solved by Amy]
- 1880 is the year William the Bloody Awful Poet is turned [solved by George]
- 11 Firefly episodes aired/14 episodes produced [solved by Maurinsky]
- “Counting down from 730” – the countdown to Buffy’s death [solved by Amy] (bonus point: 7:30)
- Room 619 at the Hyperion, where Jasmine stays [solved by George]
(hint: this belongs to a set that also includes 315, 215, and 217 (rooms at the Hyperion mentioned in Are You Now or Have You Ever Been?)) - Room 314, the room in The Initiative where Adam is born [solved by Amy]
Update: All solved except for the bonus point. I’m sure someone out there can give us 7:30.
Monday Movie Review: The Desperate Hours
The Desperate Hours (1955) 7/10
Three escaped cons led by Glenn Griffin (Humphrey Bogart) hold a suburban family prisoner, using their home as a hideout while waiting for the money that Glenn’s girlfriend is bringing.
The Desperate Hours plays on multiple levels. On the surface, it’s a taut crime thriller. There’s the battle of wits between Glenn Griffin and family patriarch Dan Hilliard (Frederic March) as well as the conflicts within the crime team, which consists of Glenn’s moody younger brother Hal (Dewey Martin) and Kobish (Robert Middleton) a loose cannon; big goon with a bad temper. As well, there are the tensions within the family; the little boy that wants his daddy to be brave, the fierce desire to protect one another, the struggle to figure out if cooperation or defiance is the wiser course.
One of the fascinating things about this crime is that it’s not a one-room drama. Using the rest of the family as hostages, the criminals are able to allow family members to leave at various times, and their forays into the “real world,” away from the nightmare of unreality in their home, are among the most frightening and effective scenes. It is fascinating to watch daughter Cindy (Mary Murphy) go on a date with her boyfriend (eternally annoying Gig Young) in order to prevent him from entering the house and discovering their secret.
Another level is apparent as I describe the surface; the Suburban Family with a Secret. The movie speaks to the idea that you don’t know what’s going on behind the recently-painted front door, the neatly-mown lawn, the bicycle left carelessly out front. It’s unfortunate that the movie doesn’t work more with this subtext, because it offers a layer of fascination.
Finally, and least effectively, is the idea of Good versus Evil. The Hilliard family is more than a decent family, they are A Decent Family representing All That Is Good and Wholesome. They are the Donna Reed Show. They are vaguely nauseating. There are touches of character development, and indeed, I like the marriage of Dan and Ellie (Martha Scott), as they discover each other in the process of being challenged by their experience. But their wholesomeness is painted as having a level of meaning that defies real character development, as though the simple act of living in the suburbs and wearing a tie to work is inherently a moral value. Glenn Griffin addresses this, resents it, despises it, but Hal Griffin longs for it, and we are meant to see middle class suburbia not as a class or as a lifestyle, but as a truly American aspiration. In all of the criminal’s rage towards this family and their life, that is the message.
And it’s not much of a message, not because it’s dated, but because it was never really true; it was always preachy, even in 1955.
Other than the head-to-head brilliance of Bogey and Frederic March, the cast doesn’t have much to offer. A side of bland with that bland describes the family, the police and FBI searching for the convicts (including B-movie stalwarts Arthur Kennedy and Whit Bissell), and Hal Griffin. Kobish is creepy but a better actor could have done more with the role. No, this is a two-man show.
The Desperate Hours is worth seeing for the tension created by its stars, and for its tense and well-designed crime, despite its flaws.
Sunday Meditation: Why Meditate
Since I neglected to provide a meditation this week, here’s a nice article from Rose Ariadne’s blog on why you should meditate:
Mediation is a vital part to any spiritual practice. It has been part of my practice of Wicca for over 20 years. Meditation teaches the mind to focus, and can also allow you to tune into your body and spirit. Let’s face it, in today’s society we are constantly bombarded by images, opinions and stress. Meditation allows you to take a step back and spend some time just with yourself.
With regular practice, meditation introduces you to the initial stages of trance. Don’t start out meditating with the intention of practicing for hours on end. Five minutes is a great start that you can build on as you progress.
There are many different types of meditation. For each of them, you’ll want to pick a time and place where it is quiet and you won’t be disturbed, just like with your magickal practice. Start out by grounding yourself. It is recommended that you take a seated position, instead of trying to stand or lie down. If need be, support your back by resting against a wall or a piece of furniture.The first type of meditation that I use regularly is the silent mantra for stress release. I’m sure you need more of this is your life, right? Stress release is so important to work into your life immediately. We are overstressed and overworked these days. The mind, body and spirit cannot work properly when overly stressed.
To start the silent mantra, choose a single word. This word will be your mantra. I’ve used “calm,” “love,” “peace,” and “power” in my practice. Once you’re seated, clear your mind and relax as best you can. Allow yourself at least two minutes of relaxing before you start trying to use the mantra. When you start, allow your word to repeat itself in your mind. Allow your breathing to start slowing down as your mind repeats the word over and over again. It will fall into a natural repetitive pattern. Continue as long as you can.
Alpha meditation is the method I use when I want to talk to my spirit guides. Before you start meditating, light a white candle that will be placed out of your view. Dim the lights and use some soft music. Make sure the music is at a low volume, you won’t actually be listening to the music. Instead, it provides white noise to block out any other sounds. Prepare your body and mind, and then envision in your mind’s eye a blank white wall. Envision the wall turning to red, then orange, yellow, green, blue, purple and then indigo. Keep your vision at indigo for as long as possible. Reverse the order of the colors before ending your session.
I also use a relaxation exercise quite frequently that helps relax all of my muscles. I use this often before my regular rituals to prepare my body in addition to a ritual bath. Dim the lights and use relaxing music at a low volume. Settle yourself in a position where you are stretched out completely. For this exercise, you can lie on the floor. Starting with your feet, contract the muscles and hold for three seconds. Then release the muscles in your feet, and continue up the length of legs contracting your shins and releasing. Proceed with the rest of your muscles all the way up to your face. Repeat at least three times.Remember, meditation doesn’t have to be scary or done in a specific way. Within the context of the practice of Wicca, its purpose is to relax your mind, body and soul for your magickal work. Meditation in the three forms I’ve described doesn’t take much time at all and the benefits are really wonderful.
Scarred for Life
I try not to read my blog spam as I delete it, but sometimes you see things…
“Disney Belle porn.”
Seriously. I’m crawling under my desk and assuming the fetal position NOW.
Could You Pass the US Citizenship Test?
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You Passed the US Citizenship Test |
 Congratulations – you got 9 out of 10 correct! |
Solutions for Western Trivia
At first I thought none of them would be solved, but here they are, all solved by late afternoon on Wednesday. And question #1 features the most “solved by” notations I’ve ever done on a single clue!
Hints are up
Get yer fresh hot hints here.
Book Expo
Saturday I attended Book Expo America, the publishing industry event of the year. Last time I attended was 2002.
It was a great opportunity for me. I had time to spend with all three of my publishers. I also spent time with two of my former publicists who are now working elsewhere; it was good to renew those relationships. I ran into Kenaz Filan, whom I know from FSG; he’s just written The Haitian Vodou Handbook, and I was delighted to get an autographed copy.
It feels good to schmooze the industry, y’know? What are publishers publishing? Who’s talking about what? Get a feel for things. And the people who know me; it’s good for them to put a face on the emails. Promotes good relationships.
But the thing is, you walk your FEET OFF. The Jacob Javits Center is five blocks long, and I walked from the entrance at 37th Street to Sterling & Ross near 39th street, all the way to Weiser near 34th Street, and back, and then did the entire circuit again. I think I walked more than 30 blocks all told, much of it toting, well, totebags. Full of books. Books are heavy. I want to go to a Feather Convention next. And tote totebags of free autographed feathers. Because ow. My arms my neck my feet.
Still, it was great.
Oh, and I met Voltaire. About whom I know absolutely nothing, except that Arthur is crazy about him and can’t shut up about him. And you’d think I’d know something, what with all the not shutting up, but I don’t. So I said “My son is a huge fan” and he said, “Great! Let me give you autographed free stuff for him!” and I called Arthur and said “I’m talking to Voltaire!” and Voltaire grabbed the phone and Arthur chewed his ear off and he is now the happiest offspring ever.
