Novel Adaptations

If I ever become a filmmaker, here are a few  books I would dream of adapting.  Of course that would take years, millions, and overcoming lots of legal obstacles.  Some have been done before, but not adequately.  And of course some could be done before I became filmmaker. This is only a partial list and does not mean I do not have interest in making films in other genres (because I do).  Of course I also have other original stories to prosecute.

The Virgin Suicides (perhaps in digital backlot)

The Cult Next Door

The Madness of Mary Lincoln

The Feast of the Goat

Last Night I Dreamed of Peace

The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox

Out of the Dust 

Oyster (Janette Turner Hospital)

World Without End

The Jungle

A Tale of Two Cities

Great Charities

Here are the charities I'll be giving to this holiday season; I encourage anyone to look them over.

SOS Children's Villages-USA

The Sudan Project (Ginghamsburg)

Basic Needs

1010 Project

Opportunity International

Water Missions International

Not For Sale

Athletics-helping to kill education

      Tippecanoe High School has boys and girls basketball games scheduled for Dec. 23, two days before Christmas.  It is a little appalling, however not surprising, that there are high school sporting events going on just two days before Christmas.  You would think no schools would schedule sporting events, so families could travel to relatives or enjoy time with each other.  But that is outdated.  Athletics have taken over education and are doing significant damage.

      Long ago, sports were just a leisure activity.  Something to have fun with.  Maybe to help instill a few values like teamwork, hard work, etc.  There was some friendly pride with other schools involved.   Some excelled and played in college and a few even professionally, where the stakes were high and the competition intense.  School sports are now void of that innocence.

      Sports are no longer just a distraction.  They are the focus, often impeding the work of teachers.  To make a team you often have to play AAU or offseason leagues  Many teams hold practices that run several hours long several nights a week, if not every night.  Many teams now require time for film viewing or workouts on weekend, or even practicing.  By the time athletes get home most night's they are already physically and mentally exhausted - yet they are somehow supposed to do homework and study - of course, there is no time for freetime.  It is even worse on nights when there are games.  There is no quality time to study after school.  The game goes late.  If it is an away game, students supposedly can do their homework on the bus. Of course that will never happen.  By the time the students are done with the game and home, there is no time to study, and if the student does study, it will likely be very unproductive or cut into their sleep - leading to tiredness and sleeping in school the next day, which make the next day that much more unproductive.  And the next day there is probably practice.  This repeats and the student gets more and more worn out, grades keep dropping, and soon they are falling way behind other students.

     More emphasis is often put on sports than education (even if it is not admitted).  It is sad that at most schools a student can participate in sports with a low GPA- sometimes as low as a 1.0 and usually no higher than a 2.0.  I think it is a privilege, not a right, to participate in athletics.  In fact, I think it is a responsibility.  You are representing the school and trying to prove you are the better school.  You are the best the school has.  

      The most disturbing thing is parents that pressure their kids in sports.  To become involved in many sports these days, you have to give up your weekends, spring breaks, vacations, summers to dedicate their lives to sports.  Children are being robbed of their childhoods.  Even the most important things are being destroyed.  Not just education, but practices and games often cause families not to eat dinner together regularly, instead forcing people to pick up fast food.  (Causing not only family breakdown but overweight children.)  Many parents put so much pressure on having one type of talent -athletic talent- instead of letting the children develop their real talents and interests.  It seems every parent thinks their kid is the next superstar and they have to spends loads of money and time traveling, attending camps. training, to get the most out of their kids.  It is no longer fun.  And coaches that get into education so they can coach make it their life, working on it year-around.  Teachers are often hired not because they are the best educator but because they can coach.  The coaches make it sports become a job.  Everything revolves around it.  Getting good grades is necessary so you can stay eligible.  The more practices the better.  Even if it cuts into education.  No more spring break, no more summer break, or Christmas vacation.  We have to stay in town for our sports.         Much of school sports is just politics anyway, so you have to be in a certain family or group to get on a team or play.  School sports is no longer a positive pursuit.  It isn't fun, it is overwhelming.  The primary goal is winning.  Sports are winning.  And education is losing. Sports are a great, great thing.  I am a HUGE sports fan.  But in our hypercompetitive society, they are losing their meaning.    

 

Reds Offseason Moves

Continuing in the tradition of discussing a die and often unrelated subjects, I present my offseason plan for the Reds. 

The Reds have done a pretty good job this offseason, but there are a few things I would do if I were the general manager instead of Walt Jocketty.

First, I would trade for Jeff Francoeur.  He struggled with the Braves last year and could use a change of scenery.  The Reds, of course, are looking for a right-handing hitting rightfielder. Check. He's struggled a little with his power and slugging numbers, but they should go up in the hitter-friendly Great American Ballpark.  With the Reds, he would not be asked to hit cleanup and face so much pressure, as he often was (or is) with the Braves.  He is also a good defensive player and could further solidify the young nuclear of the Reds.  He is already a star, but would be best in a park like GABP, without the hometown pressure or tension, which manifest last year when he was sent down to the Braves Double-A minor league affiliate.  He could come for fairly cheap, probably Ryan Freel and Homer Bailey and a prospect, such as one of the young shortstops, like Chris Valaika or Todd Frazier, or even a Ryan  Freel and Matt Belisle combo.

Second, I would sign Ivan Rodriguez.  He can repeat his 2003 performance when he led the young Florida Marlins to a World Series championship.  He can mentor the young catcher, Ryan Hanigan, and play, say 60% of the time.  It would also be great for the young latino players like Johnny Cueto and Edison Volquez to have a battery mate and mentor like Rodriguez.

Third, sign Dennys Reyes.  The Reds need a veteran left-handed specialist, and I'm a sucker for getting ex-Reds back in town.

Fourth, bring Sean Casey back.  Just because I love Sean Casey.

Fifth, I would pursue Milton Bradley, even if Jerry Hairiston is resigned.  Neither stays healthy, but both would provide a right-handed spark to the lineup.  Even if both stayed healthy, Hairiston is valuable in a utility role, so he could find plenty of playing time.  I would say an incentive-laden contract would be best, but is probably unlikely because he'll try to get a big deal because of all of his past problems staying on the field.  A three year deal, worth somewhere in the neighborhood of 22-28 million would do the trick, with a fourth-year option worth around 11 million.  I would offer Hairiston a one-year deal worth a base salary of 2.75 million and plenty of incentives.  A second-year option would also be included, worth about 6 million, without major incentives.  

All of these moves would be very cost-effective, be restore the offense, finding a middle way between homer-focused run production and small ball.  The  defense would also be better, which will be crucial to the Reds this year.   

Tom Cruise

I think Tom Cruise gets a bad rap.  He's said some pretty outrageous things.  His association with the Church of Scientology has made some people think he is crazy.  But watching an interview with him, as I am right now, a few things come across.  He seems pretty normal, nice, and very talented.  Hopefully, it will be another lesson, that has to be relearned, that you shouldn't judge a book by a cover or make quick assumptions.  And I can't wait for Valkyrie.

At first I was upset Cruise was given the role.  He doesn't come across as German and it's hard to think of him as a historical figure when it is Tom Cruise.  It's hard to forget it's supposed to not be him.  But the more I look at it, I think he the role suits him just fine.    

Obama-Progress?

      I'm worried many people don't fully understand the importance of the election of Barack Obama. (myself included.)  It is hard for somebody who hasn't had the experiences of a persecuted people, like a white person for instance, to understand what they have gone through.  The importance of the election of the first black president in American history cannot be overstated.  

      Racism has been one of the the world's greatest evils.  It has disenfranchised millions of people, led to the breakup of thousands of families, and destroyed generations of blacks.  It (sometimes literally) raped an entire race of people.  It has led to so many of the world's modern problems. Colonization led to chaos in Africa.  It has led to a region to become enslaved (no pun intended) to amazing poverty, medical crises (including the AIDS epidemic), and continuous war, as people fight over resources, land, and power.  Racism has been manifested in genocide and a tremendous income and educational gap.  In the U.S. racism has led not only to slavery and persecution, but now to a race that fails to find a comfortable or appropriate identity.

      America was one of the last countries to outlaw slavery and has had one of the most difficult times overcoming racism.  Luckily, the country that may have had the most difficult time, South Africa, elected a black as president almost two decades ago.  That is why it is so important that America has elected a black person.  It has always, historically, been one of the last countries to deal with racial problems.  The world doesn't like America much right now. And the world is watching.  It is a historic moment not just for the United States, but the entire civilized world.   

      Obama's heritage and story make him perfect to be the first black president.  He's half black, and grew up with his white mother and grandparents.  He lived was raised in Kenya and Hawa'ii.  His heritage serves as sort of a symbolic bridge.  We are not to complete racial equality or justice now, but we are getting there.  It is only appropriate that in a country with such diversity as America, the first black president has such a heritage.  I am proud because this election represents progress in two ways.  First, obviously, is the fact that a black man was elected.  Second, however, America didn't fall prey to fear and repeat its past mistakes.  Even with all of the anti-Muslim hysteria, it still elected a president with ties to Islam and an Islamic name.

      I am hopeful, though cautiously skeptical, that this could be a new start for America.  The past eight years, everything has been blamed on Bush and the Republicans.  Worldwide, once positive opinions of America have turned negative.  With so many Americans having such great admiration for Obama and so many foreigners so excited about his election, I hope we pursue a polity that is a little more civilized.  Human nature probably guarantees combative and power politics, hopefully, in this new age of development, things can be a little more pragmatic and solution-oriented.  The world is in an unprecedented era of globalization and interdependence, economically, technologically, etc.  It is amazing that a man like Obama, with his heritage, has been elected the leader of the free world.  While I would disagree with Nancy Pelosi that he is sent from God, or with Louis Farrakhan that he is the messiah, in some ways, he may be.             

Societal Problems

The problem's in today's society are so easily understood.

We spend money we don't have, have sex without any responsibility, do drugs and alcohol without any responsibility, have kids without any responsibility, get married without any responsibility. 

We antagonize people that aren't like them or don't think like them.

We kill people who kill to show people that killing is bad.