Change of Plans

I'd planned to send the first three paperbacks of the Millersburg Magic Mysteries to a couple of friends' daughters for #AllHallowsRead this year. Plus, I've been having fun with some bead work and found some cute sugar skull charms to go with the theme, so I decided to make the girls Dia de los Muertos bookmarks to go with the books.

As I'm working on the bookmarks, I realized the series and the sugar skull bookmarks would make a perfect #Witchstarter campaign! This will now be my second Kickstarter campaign!

It's gong to be short and sweet. Two weeks. $100 goal. Only the Millersburg Magick Mysteries ebooks and paperbacks and the Dia de los Muertos bookmarks for the main rewards. Maybe some stickers for the first stretch goal.

I'll post here and on the www.suzanharden.com website at the end of September before the campaign goes live.

Note 1: All Hallow's Read was started back in 2010 by Neil Gaiman as a book-giving holiday for us non-Icelanders. Iceland has Jolabokaflod, which makes me want to move there!

Note 2: Witchstarter is the name given to October Kickstarter campaigns with a magickal theme.

Monday Movie Mania - Meg 2: The Trench

It's been five years, but Jason Statham and the megalodons are back! And this time they have company!

I love "B" monster movies! I can't help it. Saturday nights with Svengooli, watching the old Universal monster movies, the Godzilla series, and the '50's sci-fi/horror flicks after putting Genius Kid to bed used to be the highlight of my week. Occasionally, there's a modern film company who gets the old thrills of something so bad it's good.


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SPOILERS


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LOVES
1) Jason Statham in anything rocks. He always looks like he's having a damn good time, even when he's making fun of himself.

2) Nearly the whole cast who survived the first movie is back, except for Li BingBing (Suyin) and Ruby Rose (Jaxx). Through dialogue and photos within the movie, It's revealed that Jonas and Suyin did marry after the end of The Meg.

3) Wu Jing was a nice addition to the cast as Suyin's brother, who took over the Mana One project after her death.

4) Sienna Guillory chewed the secenery as the film's head bad guy. Or she did until she was chewed by something other than the titular megs.

5) PIPPIN LIVES FOR ANOTHER SEQUEL!


HATES
1) I have to suspend a lot of disbelief when the film continuusly breaks the laws of physics. J can let it go with gratuitous shots of a shirtless Jason, but since this is a US/Chinese co-production, I didn't even get that.


This ain't high-falutin' cinema, but it's a good rainy, Saturday afternoon flick. I give Meg 2: The Trench 8 stars out of 10 for stupid fun.

Music I've Been Listening to Lately

A brilliant day in the life montage.

Products by an Artificial Intelligence Are Not Copyrightable

Note: We're not even getting into the issues of theft for training here. It violates our copyright, and it pisses me off. No to mention, it's an entire blog topic on its own.

The issue is fairly simple. Anything "created" by AI is not copyrightable. Last week, U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell upheld the March determination by the U.S. Copyright Office that a piece of art created was not copyrightable.

This isn't a surprise to me or anyone who paid any attention to Naruto v. Slater, No. 16-15469 (9th Cir. 2018), i.e. the notorious Monkey Selfie case. When the liberal 9th Court of Appeals leans into such a conservative opinion, it's highly unlikely, they, much less any other court will change its collective mind.

The basis of copyright law is to protect the rights of humans who create. Not animals, not computers, not anything that doesn't have some kind of human intervention.

This is the reason I've avoided AI for both writing, book covers, and miscellaneous swag. I've paid extended licensing fees to humans for the use of their art for my covers and swag. I've also had a couple of long talks to my  cover designers/artists about whether or not they use AI. I had a feeling it was only a matter of time before the judicial system came down against the copyright of such an AI use.

It doesn't mean con artists aren't already using AI to rip off people. And the publishing industry is already up in arms. Hell, so is Hollywood. The big studios were planning on using AI to screw over writer and actors. Hence, the ongoing strikes of the SAG/AFTRA and WGA. This case is a major blow to the corporate plans.

But in the long run, the decision is a boon for all artists, no matter our medium. If we put the work in, we deserve the copyright and the money that comes from our work.

Monday Movie Mania - Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

One last Indiana Jones movie (until they recast Indy with some young, hot up-and-comer because Hollywood can't come up with new ideas).

This film was made for those of us who were kids when the original Raiders of the Lost Ark came out forty-two years ago. It acknowledges the crap we go through as we grow older. The regrets. The disappointments. The question of whether we still have relevance in today's world.

It's been pretty obvious that those who've one-starred this movie are the kids who haven't grown up yet. But I give James Mangold, Harrison Ford, and the rest of the cast and crew credit for putting together a movie that addresses all the issues of a world that's changed around the character, and his ability to adapt or not, as the case may be.


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SPOILERS


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LOVES
1) People bitched about the CGI de-ageing of Harrison Ford for the flashback scene at the begining, but I thought it was nicely done for the most part. My only complaint is Ford's double couldn't mimic his awkward running style. (Yeah, I know it's a bizarre nitpick, but it's something very specific to Ford's style.

2)The return of both Marion and Sallah.

3) The way the writers dealt with Mutt. A child's death often drives a permanent wedge between spouses.

4) The addition of Phoebe Waller-Bridge as Indy's goddaughter, Helena Shaw. She's more like Indy's child than Mutt ever was.

5) Mads Mikkelsen as Nazi scientest Voller was pitch perfect as someone on the flip side of Indy's sorrow and regret. Voller is determined to kill Hitler and avoid all of the mistakes Hitler made. What he doesn't understand is that even if the time machine allowed him to go back to 1939, he wouldn't have succeeded.


HATES
1) None. The movie did what it meant to do. Not even King Arthur gets a happily ever after, but this adventure got Indy out of his depression over his age and Mutt's death. It's too bad the kids who watched this movie didn't get it.


I give Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny a solid 10 out of 10 stars. Because I'm an old fogey, and it's my blog. GET OFF MY LAWN!!

Music I've Been Listening to Lately

This song was Lady M's respone to the critics trashing of Erotica and Sex.

Oversleeping and Book Thongs

I had to get up early Monday and Tuesday. Or course, my body claimed payment for the deficit, and though I went to bed at midnight, I slept nearly sixteen hours straight.

And the backup I started before I went to bed still wasn't finished because I forget to adjust the sleep function timer on the new laptop.

While the backup continued, I worked on another project. Eons ago, I broke a couple of my original Book Thongs. Book Thong, Inc., no longer exists. The broken book thongs got tucked into my sewing box. I found them again when I started organizing my sewing room.

And the lightbulb went off. Why don't I make some Egyptian god themed book thongs for my next Kickstarter?

I made the first one today, a scorpion for Lady Selket. Plus, I got half of my rabbit book thong rethreaded before I needed to make supper. I'll finish fixing the bottom half tomorrow and rethread the silver high-heel one that broke.

But today gave me the confidence I can make a bunch of book thongs for the next Kickstarter for The Books of Apep series. I'll mix them up for the gods and goddesses in the novels. My only problem is finding affordable charms for Nebet-Het (Nephthys) and Set.

I'll have to keep looking.

Monday Movie Mania - Oppenheimer

People, you need to see this movie, too.

It's not an either/or with Oppenheimer and Barbie. Both are awesome in their own ways. Both are examinations of our cultural dynamics.

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SPOILERS


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LOVES
1) The sheer acting power Christopher Nolan and the producers recruited for this movie! The ads focus on Cillian Murphy, as well they should. I'm going to be very upset if he and Nolan don't get Oscar nods for Best Actor and Best DIrector along with a Best Picture nomination for the movie itself.

2) Holy crap! The supporting cast is a master's class on acting. Emily Blount (my pick for Best Supporting Actress). RDJ (one of my picks for Best Supporting actor). David Krumholtz (one of my picks for Best Supporting Actor). Gary Oldman. Kenneth Branagh.Florence Pugh. Harry Groener. Rami Malek. I could keep going, but Holy Shit! There's a ton of talent in this flick.

3) The costuming, set design, and music were so perfect you didn't notice them. Which is how it should be in a historical flick.


HATES
1) There's only one nitpick. During one of the black and white scenes, the line of RDJ's bald cap was obviously showing. It's one of those things that probably wouldn't have been obvious if the scene was filmed in color, but in black and white, the issue was glaring.


Overall, I expect a ton of Oscar nominations for Oppenheimer. Barbie will get a few noms, but it was too popular and too successful for the Academy to take it seriously though it fucking should! Overall, Oppenheimer earned the rare 20 stars out of 10.

Seriously, folks, go see both movies as a double-feature if your ass and knees can handle it. Mine and DH's can't anymore, which is why we had to do two different nights. As DH pointed out, both flicks cover a lot of the same themes.

Music I've Been Listening to Lately

This was a new track from Madonna's first greatest hits compilation.

Ke Kaumaha

My heart aches.

DH and I had to postpone our honeymoon because he was going through chemotherapy the year we were married. So, in 1996, we decided to have a spectacular trip to Hawaii to celebrate not just our wedding, but his survival.

We spent the first week on O'ahu and the second on Maui.

We fell in love with Maui. We stayed at a hotel just outside of the historic town of Lahaina. The town, the people, and the food were all so amazing.

And I can't say anymore without crying.

Because the town is literally gone.

A wildfire spurred by drought and the winds of Hurricane Dora swept through Lahaina late Tuesday and Wednesday. By Thursday morning, the town was a pile of ash and debris.

If you wish to help, I suggest the Maui Strong Fund.

This is a situation where thoughts and prayers aren't enough.

Another Roadtrip Photo

On the road trip from Boise to Rockaway Beach, Oregon, we stopped to fill up the gas tank and grab some cold drinks. (We'd gone through all the caffeinated beverages in the Suburban's mini-fridge. It was going to be a 100+ degree day in Boise when we left.)

This was my best shot of Mt. Hood. The smaller mountain to the right is the remnants of Mt. St. Helens.

I'd studied the eruption of St. Helens while writing Resurrected. That's the book where I blew up Mt. Rainier and turned it into a crater lake due to a god fight.

However, seeing St. Helens in person was a little unnerving. I asked my companions how they felt living so close to an active volcano. It didn't seem to bother them, but then, they hadn't written a novel about the effects of a major eruption and the desperate attempts of the supernaturals to save the Normals who weren't able to evacuate. Not to mention, my main character's moral dilemma from her involvement in the natural disaster.

And as I snapped several shots, I could see in my mind's eye the initial column of smoke and dust rising into the air from the 1980 eruption. Both Idaho and Oregon have beautiful scenery, but I'd probably think twice before I moved there in real life.

Monday Movie Mania Is Back! - Barbie

Quick Note: Look up the Barbie movie on Google to see what happens!

Yep! DH and and I are going to the public movie theaters again! I'm still a little nervous about going to public places, but so far, everyone in the theaters have been self-spacing, which is a relief. (It was right up there with the pilot telling the passengers on my first leg of my Columbus to Boise to keep their damn mouths shut about those of us wearing masks.)

And no, I didn't wear a mask in the theater because I wanted POPCORN!

Seriously, you need popcorn while watching Barbie.

It was fun! It was fabulous! Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling were perfect as Stereotypical Barbie and Beach Ken!

A lot of folks pick one side of the political spectrum or the other to paint their dislike of the movie. However, Greta Gerwig and her writing partner Noah Baumbach made equal fun of the patriarchy and feminism. The only thing that surprised me was that Mattel signed off on the script though it made their executives look like a bunch of dumbasses.

I'm not bothering with a spoiler warning because the media has dissected this movie enough, but here's my loves and hates:

LOVES
1) Kate McKinnon killed it as Weird Barbie. She's the only Barbie doll from the movie I want. (She's currently on pre-order on the Mattel website.)

2) Gloria's speech to the Barbies. America Ferrera killed it as the mom who just wanted to share something with her daughter.

3) Ariana Greenblatt as Gloria's self-righteous daughter Sasha was perfect in the trope twist. (The kid doesn't want to save the doll. As Samual L. Jackson's character said in The Kingsman, it's not that kind of movie.)

4) Rhea Perlman kicked butt as the spirit of Barbie creator Ruth Handller.

5) Helen Mirren as the narrator had all the best lines.

6) John Cena obviously didn't feel his manhood was threatened by playing Merman Ken.

7) WIll Ferrell played Mattel's asshole CEO to perfection.

8) Michael Cera was adorable as the only Allan doll.

9) And a shout out to all the actors playing the citizens of Barbieland--You had fun with your roles and it showed.


HATES
1) Not once did the movie acknowledge that Midge married Allan, and that's why she was perpetually pregnant.


What's the star score on Barbie? I plan on seeing it again in the theater, so Barbie gets the double-score of 20 STARS!

Music I've Been Listening to Lately

In celebration of Madonna turning 65 this month, I'm playing some of my favorites from the '90's!

Grooving on the Writing and Deer!

I went to Starbucks yesterday to write. It felt good sitting quietly in a cafe and tapping away on the keyboard. So good I did 1200 words in one sitting. It's been a while since I could do that. I guess the last year of the pandemic stressed me more than I realized.

This is the first picture I took when I arrived in Boise. Tracie was showing me around their house, and we stepped out into the backyard. The mule deer buck stuck to the shade int the neighbors and nibbled on some greens.

His new horns are pretty fuzzy, and he didn't seem to care we were out there until I got too close to the fence. But instead of taking off, he saunters a few steps away and kept an eye on me.

For those who don't live in the western portion of the U.S., the mule deer, or black-tailed deer, is so named because their tails resemble a mule's, as opposed to the white-tailed deer that like to go traipsing through our yard in Ohio.

I expect wildlife in rural Ohio, but Boise is a major metropolitan city. Tracie lives a few blocks from downtown. But it's still high desert and was 100 degrees the afternoon I arrived, so I don't blame the little guy for wanting a little shade and a bite of green.

Halloween Is Coming

It feels a little weird writing a Halloween story at the beginning of August. Somehow, it felt normal while working on it in July, but I was on the Oregon Coast. The cooler weather, the fog, and gallons of coffee and tea helped a lot to provide the appropriate mood.

But now, I'm in Ohio. It's in the 80's. The humidity is running between 75 and 90 percent. And everyone is either cramming in their last summer trips or freaking out about  school starting.

Or in some cases, both.

But I love the Halloween season, in case you hadn't noticed over the last fourteen years I've been writing this blog. And on Labor Day weekend, the decorations are coming out!

So this story will get me in the mood enough to clean the house so it's ready to be decorated. Maybe I need to place some Halloween music while I'm working on this story to help it along.