THOUGHTS AT THREE A.M.

I, ROBOT; THE MOVIE, VERSES THE BOOK!!

Once again, a major motion picture recently made, based on a book of science fiction, that I read when I was a teenager, and quite taken with the genre! It is astonishing to me how often this is happening.Now, it is no surprise to me that more and more frequently, the author of these books/movies have turned out to be Isaac Asimov.He was a brilliant scientist, as well as a prolific writer, so my only true surprise is that the movie industry hasn't come out with more films based upon his works.I, Robot, starring Will Smith is a wonderful movie, now out on DVD, and one of those that I salivated over for some time before we bought it. I say we, but what I mean is, I wanted it for some time, and Yon son bought it and brought it to me as a treat and, Oh! Is it ever! It was a real movie night, with the popcorn and pop, and our eyes glued to the t.v., and only paused for bathroom breaks.The movie begins with the three laws of Robotics, just as" Doctor A" laid them down, and right there, with no conscious decision of my own, I began to compare the book with the movie.It was only natural that one should, who has read the book.It is difficult to do an in depth comparison, however, for the simple reason that Asimov's original work was not a novel, but a compilation of short stories.So, it is not quite apt to say that this is the book brought to life, but rather inspired by  the book, and then artfully sewn together by the screen writers.There is one main theme throughout, but the sub-stories are easily recognizable as being taken from this story and that story, with several of my favorite aspects included, and even one cute touch added that I had not anticipated. That of the scientist who is killed in the very beginning's looks and manner bearing  a strong  resemblance to Asimov himself.

If you now want to ask how can I tell, since he is killed in the beginning of the movie, all I can say to that is, that was the right question!

OUI?

WHO WROTE, "YOU'LL BE A MAN MY SON", AND THE POEM!!

First, I must apologize for making the reference without the notation of it's source, but honestly it never occured to me that anyone wouldn't know. My mistake. Here again, I am responding to a referer I followed back, who wanted to know where it came from. It is from a Poem by Rudyard Kipling. Now, I just know you have Kipled, whether you realize it or not. He wrote "Jungle Book" as well as " Rikitiki tavi"among others, and he also wrote "IF" Which is the source of my quote, and which follows, now!

                                                                          "IF"

If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs, and blaming it on you:

If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, but make allowances for their doubting too;

If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, or being lied about, don't deal in lies;

Or being hated, don't give way to hating and yet don't look too good, nor talk to wise;

If you can dream and not make dreams your masters;

If you can think, and not make thoughts your aim;

If you can meet with triumph and disaster and treat those two imposters just the same;

If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools;

Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken, and stoop and build 'em up with worn out tools;

If you can make one head of all your winnings and risk it on one turn of pitch and toss;

And lose, and start again at your beginnings and never breathe a word about your loss;

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew to serve your turn long after they are gone;

And so hold on when there is nothing in you except the will which says to them, "hold on."

If you can walk with crowds and keep your virtue or walk with kings, and not lose the common touch;

If neither foe nor loving friends can hurt you;

If all men count with you, but none too much;

If you can fill the unforgiving minute with sixty seconds worth of distance run,

Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it;

And, which is more, you'll be a man, my son.

                                                                                               Rudyard Kipling

I cannot recall a time when I did not" Kiple", but I was about 10 or 12 when I first read this piece. It never fails to bring a lump to my throat, and a tear to my eye. I hope you enjoyed this as much as I did bringing it to you. Thanks for making me drag it out of the bookcase and blow the dust off. Even with the mousie bites and the mold spores, it is worth reading all over again, from cover to cover. Can't wait to read "Gunga Din" again!

OUI?

THE THEME TO THE BOOK " THE LONG WALK" BY RICHARD BACHMAN

The Long Walk was of a futuristic society,that through a lottery of sorts, amongst young teenage men, there is an extreme competition,which is the long walk.It starts out slowly, focusing on one boy, who has filled with hope for the upcoming test. His parents are encouraging and supportive, but with a tinge of worry while they take their boy to the starting line, and then can only watch helplessly from the sidelines as dozens of other boys join their son in a walk that will last until there is only one of them left standing...or walking. This walk is so long, it lasts days and days! The only breaks they had were timed, and other than that, there were armed "guards" who gave them warnings to keep moving, and if they didn't respond in time, they could be shot! They keep moving through rain, cold and hunger, through walking out of their shoes, and blisters on their feet, and all because the ultimate winner would have their every wish granted-for life- if they are lucky enough to live through this ordeal. This book is gripping! A real page turner...but don't loan it to anybody, you will never get it back, because when they finish it, they will be so stunned, and shocked by the ending, they will tell everybody about it, and before you know it, it will be making the rounds of all your friends...anyway, that's what happened to my copy!

OUI?

OF COURSE YOU KNOW THAT CHOCOLATE IS A VEGETABLE!!!

This is the title of my latest "find" at the library,and  naturally, my new favorite book. When I read the title to Sherry over the phone, she said," I didn't realize that!" I couldn't help it, I laughed all over my face. I said, well, it's not animal or mineral, so what did you think it was? She goes, it's candy, isn't it? No, chocolate is made from a cocoa bean, which grows on a bush or tree. It truly is a vegetable! In fact, until you add sugar, it is bitter...and it is also good for you, because of the natural fiber,among other things.I could go on, but why spoil it for you? Get the book and read it, you'll love it!

OUI?

SOMETHING CURIOUS ABOUT MEN'S MAGAZINES!

So, I was thumbing through one of Yon son's magazines, namely," Men's Health", which is not the kind that ladies should not see, if you get my drift, and I thought it was really nice, that this is the kind of thing he likes.It is very GQ. It has men's fashions, aftershave and cologne ads, and tips on clothes and style, nutrition, and exercise...but when I got to page 60, everything changed. It was now upside-down! At first I thought it was a mistake, but NO! When I asked Yon son about it, he said that is the way they do things. That it is meant to be two mags in one, and at the change-over, that is where most of the articles and menus, and other stuff is. HUH! live and learn!

OUI?

THE SILLY SEASON

For the life of me, I cannot recall if it was Ray Bradbury,Isaac Asimov, or Robert Heinlein who wrote about the silly season.It's been so long ago...but it really doesn't matter. The upshot of it went something like this. Every seven years or so, everything goes a bit  wacky. The Weather, people's behavior, fads and fashions, all of it. Everything and everybody around you, looses it's center. So, here we are. The silly season is in full swing. It ranges from the mundane, to the downright goofy, to the dangerous.Certainly, anyone who is not living under a rock can attest to this silly season, up to and including a blurb I just caught on television, when some guy had the giant gonads to call Donald Trump,  "Trumpster" to his face. How stupid can one man be? I didn't stay around to witness it, but I am almost positive that guy got fired. If he didn't, then" the Donald" is slipping. But enough about that. I don't care one way or the other how the current apprentice turns out, or the one before it. I watched the first one out of  curiosity, and that was enough for me. The premise is a bit ignorant, if you ask me. Whether you are street-smart or educated, or male or female, has no bearing on how well or badly you will do on a job, or in the market place. It depends on a clear mind, steady nerves, and a willingness to work hard. And, that's all I have to say about that.

I am tired of all the "reality"shows, however. None of which are, in actuality, reality.It's all smoke and mirrors and  manipulation.There is no truth in them. The parameters are false, the situations are not real, and the only thing that is revealed is how much nonsense these people are willing to put up with for money. Money. That's the bottom line, the be all and end all for all of these participants. It's obvious. Isn't the theme song of the apprentice, money, money, money? Okay. Perhaps, not ALL. For some of them, the bottom line is to be loved and adored. To be beautiful. It's pitiful. Might just as well call them, " Look how shallow I am!" Now, I don't mean to get off on a rant here, but what ever happened to plain old Fashioned well written shows, and good acting? Or, if you need to be titillated beyond that, how about shutting off the T.V., and reading a book, or writing your own book or show, or blogging? Not that I don't enjoy a good reality show now and then, but the sort I like are generally called "documentaries." You know the type. The unvarnished truth. Well, the reality shows we have now are reeking with varnish. I mean, think! Don't you react differently when you have a camera on you? I do! How could you not? I mean, it is there! Somebody is following these people around with cameras! That's what makes a normal person become brave, boastful, proud, contentious, argumentative, and haughty. The women become vain, surly, pushy and downright nasty. God forbid they should accept defeat with poise and grace, Oh no! That would be far too ladylike. The men are nicer, and even more sensitive, and that isn't reality, either!  They are all behaving the way they think they should behave, not the way they would in real life. Consider this. Would any potential employer expect one of their applicants to continue working, once they had sustained a head injury? No! The task would have been brought to a screeching halt, and that person would have been sent to the emergency room, regardless of whether the victim wanted to go or not. If he had done that, would Trump have lost a single dime? No. At the worst, he might have had to change his time line, the deadline for the task to be finished. Big Woop! All I can say about Trump is, I don't envy his bride at all, if his attitude is any indication of his compassionate nature. Given a choice, give me a poor man with a sweet nature, and kindness in his heart for those who are sick or injured, rather than a rich man with icewater in his veins.

As I said at the beginning, this is the silly season, and it's in full swing. But sooner or later, it will fade again, and most things will go back to normal. But I have my doubts as to whether the producers of the reality shows will change at all. I do believe that they shall continue to be what they were before. Grasping, avaricious, and completely consumed by gain and profit, with no interest in how these wild ideas will impact the participants, the audience, or the world around them. I don't think the silly season really had any impact upon them at all. It just revealed what was already there. To those of us who are watching and listening, now we know who and what they are...and it ain't pretty son. It ain't pretty at all.

OUI?