I am a huge fan of Kelly’s surrealistically twisted Donnie Darko. The theatrical cut was a trippy revelation in High School and he uncut edition a brilliant addition to my collection in college. It looks like Kelly’s new film, Southland Tales, is finally about to be released. It looks incredibly odd, complete with The Rock, Sean William Scott, and Sarah Michelle Gellar….the whole early 2000’s, B-movie crowd in one film - it looks interestingly trippy though and quite possibly as though the casting was a great big joke…which could be fun all by itself. November 9 looks to be the date on which we’ll all find out if this stunningly weird hodgepodge actually works. I hope so.  Here’s a link to the trailer.

I saw this news the other day and can’t for the life of me remember why I didn’t post it then. I started writing the Wheel of Time novels when I was 16 and feel as though I know the characters within as well as any group of fictional beings I’ve ever had the pleasure of spending my time with. Here is a repost of the well written post written by Jeff at the Amazon.com book blog.

After a long and brave fight with amyloidosis, international bestselling fantasy author Robert Jordan (born James Oliver Rigney, Jr.) passed on Sunday afternoon. Jordan’s Wheel of Time series had spawned a legion of fans, along with music, websites, and all of the other trappings that come from the kind of success in which an author’s imagination transfers itself to his fans. (See a sample YouTube tribute from one fan below.)

Jordan had first disclosed his condition through a letter posted on Locus Online and elsewhere in March 2006. In it, he had expressed his determination to beat the disease: “I have thirty more years’ worth of books to write even if I can keep from thinking of any more, and I don’t intend to let this thing get in my way.” Jordan’s honest and open approach about his condition helped bring needed attention to amyloidosis, a rare blood disease.

According to Wikipedia and his publisher bio, Jordan was born in Charleston, South Carolina, and served two tours in Vietnam, earning the Distinguished Flying Cross with bronze oak leaf cluster, the Bronze Star with “V” and bronze oak leaf cluster, and two Vietnamese Gallantry Crosses with palm. He later received a degree in physics from The Citadel and worked for the U.S. Navy as a nuclear engineer.

Jordan began writing in 1977 and was first published in 1980 with The Fallon Blood under the pen name Reagan O’Neal. He then cut his teeth on a series of Conan novels, before turning in the 1990s to the Wheel of Time novels that earned him his reputation.

Jordan’s heroic fantasy had a truly epic scope and his readership similarly transcended the fantasy genre. Over the years, I can recall hearing about Jordan from a multitude of people and settings–on racquetball courts, in shopping malls, at dinner parties, on boats, in pool halls, and in a number of different countries.

Galley Cat has reported on the reaction of fans worldwide, and his official blog has over 700 comments from readers who loved his work. Wrote one fan, “Thank you for making a world where we could enter into and indulge our imagination and fantasies.”

But it wasn’t just fans who adored Jordan. His publisher, Tor Books, had a special relationship with Jordan. Tom Doherty, founder of Tor, had long been close friends with the author, and Jordan’s wife Harriet McDougal works for Tor. Tor editor Patrick Nielsen Hayden noted on his blog, “He was a doer of quiet kindnesses, which counts for a very great deal.”

“Brother/cousin” Wilson posted the following message on the official Robert Jordan blog site yesterday: “Thank each and everyone of you for your prayers and support through this ordeal. He knew you were there. Harriet reminded him today that she was very proud of the many lives he had touched through his work. We’ve all felt the love that you’ve been sending my brother/cousin.”

A lot of people have done this, but I watched gave a little bit of help as my friend at Librocrat made a t-shirt commemorating the tasing of Andrew Meyer, the erstwhile prankster from the University of Flordia.  You can find them here.

This is a cool story, not only because I believe Barry Bonds is the worst thing to happen to baseball since Pete Rose and the 1996 strike. That 756th homerun baseball he hit last month was put up for auction by the lucky bastard who caught it. Apparently, the appraisal on the ball would have resulted in hundreds of thousands of dollars in tax bills for the owner, a 21 year old who clearly can’t pay that much money. So, he auctioned it off and brought it over $700,000 - not bad for a $15 ticket to the ball game.

The winner of the Barry Bonds baseball was Mark Ecko, the clothing designer and cultural prankster. Most people who pay that much money for a piece of Americana would probably keep the ball or donate it to the Hall of Fame, right? Well, Ecko had a better idea. He’s putting the fate of the ball in the hands of everyone who feels like voting, giving them three choices.

First, they can choose to have the ball donated to the hall of fame - that being the boring, obvious answer.

Second, they can choose to have the ball branded with a giant astrix, marking the big fat cheater that is Barry Bonds and the drain on baseball that he’s created with his false record.

Third, voters can have the ball blasted into outerspace on a rocket (I’m not making this up) and obliterated from Earth forever.

I chose the second one, if only because I’m of the opinion that a shameful reminder of his cheating is better than simply destroying it - though that rocket launch would probably be damn fun to watch.

My own opinions of Barry Bonds and his quasi-historic home run blast aside, it is kind of funny that Ecko would pay over $700,000 for a baseball just to ruin or destroy it. More than likely it will end up in the hall of fame, but I can dream at least. You can vote on your own at Vote756.com.

It’s much too easy to spend an entire week without setting foot outside of your home, especially when you work from home and have no viable reason to ever set that foot anywhere but firmly upon the coffee table. Here are a few signs you might need to get out of the house:

You’re talking to the dog - no not that cute, “hey you’re a dog talk”, but full on one-sided conversations about your current workload, the prospects for the Mariners in 2008 or just how much you wish you were outside (ironic, no?)

Lunch is the same as dinner - when you start eating the same meals every four hours for days at a time it’s time to get out of the house. It means you’re either too lazy to cook, completely out of food, or no longer have nervous sensations in your mouth.

The TV is always on - but you have no idea what you’re watching. When you don’t even recognize the TV is on anymore and you look up to find a reality show in which an early 90’s musical prodigy is “dating” 20 women in a some anonymous mansion, it’s time to get outside.

You find sports novel - if you flip by Sportscenter and see basketball highlights and start musing on the mechanics of a shot, or see men running and wonder how they do that for so long, you need to get off your behind and take a walk.

You forget what day it is - the most common problem, especially in the midst of long, dragging deadlines. You might be inside for days at a time and never even think to look at a calendar. Get up and do something time sensitive. Watch a movie or order a Tuesday special from the local Chinese dive.

Daylight and Moonlight begin to look eerily similar - With the shades drawn and flourescent lighting in place (save the planet, use a flourescent bulb), it’s almost impossible to know what time of day it is. At least with a clear view of the sun in the sky, you might feel tempted to step out for a few minutes and enjoy the heat.

It’s too easy to fall into a habit of staying at home all the time, either working or laying around, relaxing from working, but it’s also going to drive you insane. Step out for a short walk every morning (that dog may not talk back, but he’ll walk with you), work in the park for a change or call up your friends for a pick-up game.

It’s Tuesday evening and it’s been another supposed day of “work”. Unfortunately, said week of work has been precipitous at best. It’s seemingly the last the beautiful days of summer and it is too easy to just ignore the work and sit outside or visit with my friends instead of actually working. Generally, I’d always rather do those things, but unfortunately, that’s a big problem when dealing with an at-home job - actually doing the work.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again here, procrastination is your biggest enemy when you work from home as a freelance writer. You’re going to want to sit around and watch TV or play video games or read a book. The sky is going to clear up and you’ll want to go out and enjoy the weather, or you’ll decide you can wait one more day to finish that big project.

You can’t do those things though and there are a few very good reasons for that. First off, you’re going to have trouble paying your bills if you don’t do a full week’s work. If you have one project to complete in a week and you start it on a Wednesday because you know it only takes three days to complete, you’re shortchanging yourself by a full two days. Most people work full work weeks and now you’re not.

Thus, even those few people who are capable of working whenever there is work in front of them to do are still victims of procrastination. The problem is that when the work is done, it feels alright to finally procrastinate. But, there is still time in the week, so keep on writing.

There are numerous sources of procrastination too. I don’t have immediate advice to give you in regards to how exactly you should overcome the desire to be lazy, but I can tell you this much: don’t work in the same room as an active television, an obnoxious pet, or any unread books. Try to stay offline as much as possible. If you have a laptop, don’t plug a mouse in either, because it’s too easy to start playing video games in your “down time”. Also, try to eat meals at the right times as well, so that you don’t use food as an ample excuse to procrastinate.

Basically, what I’m saying is, I procrastinate a lot and the result is a lot of extra stress for no apparent reason. Of course, I tend to enjoy that extra time I waste as well, so there is an argument for both sides.

Saturday mornings are interesting beasts. They often enjoy a carefully set out collection of plans and a goal somewhere in the middle of the day. They usually end up being completely slept through and then thought back on wistfully as I stumble around at noon trying to wake up just a little bit more. But, as a freelance writer, it’s important to set aside those off days in the week, because it’s very easy - when you work at home - to start working every day and not think of work as a scheduled event but as an often times endless cycle of revisions and invoices.

So, take two or three days off every week and enjoy them because if you don’t, you’ll go insane. That’s not to say you don’t have those days to work on if something comes. Feel free to finish a big project on a Saturday if your procrastinated on a Friday, just don’t do it all the time.

That’s not why I started writing this post though. Consider the lecture over. No, I started because it’s a nice day off and with the last couple of weeks being what they’ve been, I’m happy to get out of the house and enjoy these final sunny days of summer. It should be fun. I’ll post more intriguing, deep perspective for your perusal in a day or two…for now, enjoy my shameless reposting of articles I’ve written or stories I’ve read elsewhere.

It’s that time of the year again and the Booker shortlist was just announced. Ever since I first read “God of Small Things” for a class in college, I’ve been an avid fan of the annual awarding of British Commonwealth authors. Life of Pi, The Sea, and Small Things are among my favorite books and others have proven themselves time and again as amazing exertions in literature. That being said, here is the shortlist (of which I have only read one book…The Reluctant Fundamentalist - which won’t win).

• Mister Pip by Lloyd Jones
• On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan
• Darkmans by Nicola Barker
• The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid
• Animal’s People by Indra Sinha
• The Gathering by Anne Enright

I always watch this award very carefully, as the powers that be awarding this prize tend to be much better at their jobs than those who hand out other major literary prizes. I’ll post again when the winner is announced (and I’ve read it)

This isn’t partiuclarly related to the world of freelance writing, but as an avid technophile, it interests me nonetheless. It’s no real shock that the tech world has a mild orgasm every year when September and October roll around and the new products are announced, released and drooled over by anyone with dreams of great  big Christmas credit card bills in their future.

Apple announced this week that an entirely new line of iPods is being released by Christmas. It’s not a surprise as Apple tends to upgrade the iPod line annually, just in time for technophiles everywhere to throw out their old “last year’s” model and get the bigger, stronger, faster model. It’s an annual tradition in many households and has served to make Apple billions of dollars. This year is slightly different though, as this is also the year in which Apple released its much touted iPhone, essentially a half-baked telephone installed on an incredibly cool iPod for $499.

What this means though is that those individuals who have been seeking the next best technology but without the bloated service contracts and poor telephone service can now buy a new iPod Touch (as they’re cleverly calling it) for only $299. Additionally, you can purchase a larger 16GB model for a $100 more.

The classic models are stretching their wings a little as well and now come in sizes up to a whopping 160GB, more portable capacity than any “legally” buying music connoisseur could ever need. If enough space for 40,000 songs isn’t enough, throw a few hundred videos on there and you’ll be set for as long a trip as you could possibly take.

You’ve got to love the folks over at Apple. Even as I sit here knowing that they’re manipulating the dollars out of my wallet carefully, I look at these slick new pictures and start counting how many projects I need to finish to buy one.

Fame is a fickle beast. Unfortunately, in the world today it is also a beast of burden and finding one to carry you around for a few hours is as easy as it has ever been. Even as we pine and fawn over the “famous for being famous” crowd in Hollywood, thousands more find temporary stardom on the Internet through less traditional means. So, what defines fame in a world where ping pong balls or clever Photoshop skills can garner someone international acclaim?

The Tinsel Town Classic

Fame and stardom may be evolving, but the same silver screen formula has created numerous stars and starlets that still capture the imaginations of millions. Movies are undeniably the largest star vehicle in the world and with a few quick films, a man or woman in Hollywood can become a household name nearly anywhere.

However, thanks to the Internet, tabloids, and the instantaneous transmission of information around the world, it’s not as feasible for these living statues of gold and bronze to survive the scandals that tend to follow them around like flies on…well you get the idea. Being famous is a dangerous proposition these days as even the tiniest sip of stardom can result in full on intoxication.

Stars like Tom Cruise have made names for themselves by speaking out on various topics repeatedly. By constantly announcing themselves to the public, sometimes in eccentrically misguided ways, they lose pieces of their credibility, causing their careers to actually suffer. It has nothing to do with religious or philosophical beliefs. It has to do with the general opinion of the public and how much a celebrity differs from that perspective. At a certain point, the burning curiosity of the masses becomes confusion and eventually disgust.

Famous for the Sake of Fame

Yes, there are the Paris Hiltons, Nicole Richies, and Kevin Federlines of the world as well. These individuals have made a name for themselves by simply being themselves. Latching on to the Hollywood lifestyle and holding on for dear life, this type of celebrity transcends recognition for accomplishments because they have not accomplished anything. Paris Hilton is rich and parties with other famous people. Kevin Federline married Britney Spears, a woman who used to be the biggest pop star on the planet.

The cult of celebrity is intriguing because it feeds on itself. Even as millions of readers and fans sit idly and wonder what exactly these men and women did to become so famous, they ravenously devour the information fed to them on a daily basis by sites like TMZ, supermarket tabloids, or idle workplace gossip.

Even individuals who no longer earn their stardom, such as Lindsey Lohan or Britney Spears can find their way into this category through a litany of captivating, if largely dim acts. Being in the public spotlight has an effect on people that is impossible to understand. For that reason, celebrities have been known to act strange, falling victim to their own stardom and the surreal realization that everything they do is being watched.

Fame for fame’s sake is an odd accomplishment and only made possible by the oversaturation of news and entertainment media. Thousands of shows, websites, and paparazzi make the industry boom and carefully worded copy and special reports ensure that the viewers and readers of the world become attached to these odd individuals who have somehow become both pariahs and saints in our consumer culture.

The Homegrown Celebrity

The old modicum that everyone gets their 15 minutes of fame has never been quite as true as it is today. The internet has created a culture in which anyone can become famous for anything, largely because of the user-defined credos of sites like YouTube and Blogger. If anyone with internet access and a cheap video camera can become a superstar, there are likely to be millions of superstars.

Oddball humor such as Ask a Ninja or the video blogging of LonelyGirl15 are prime examples of how a single individual with a webcam can become an international superstar overnight. The free flow of information makes it possible. Of course, what this means is that even the famous can become more famous by using this philosophy. Bands like Ok Go made a name for themselves with homegrown music videos of choreographed dance routines and treadmills. Even advertising campaigns are taking the viral route these days, using unnamed movie trailers and cleverly crafted videos.

The internet provides the largest demographic in the world and only a small percentage of that demographic needs to be curious about a video or blog to make it successful. For that reason, clever ideas and word of mouth are all that a person needs anymore to become famous.

Everyone Else

That makes the rest of us consumers. The world is full of consumers and viewers, those individuals who watch as Tom Cruise says odd things or Paris Hilton goes to jail. Everyone else sees us watching and the content just continues to grow. Fame may be a fickle beast, but it is also a commodity and it is more freely available than ever before.

This is a reprint of a column I write for Buzzle.com