Ron

I’ve greatly enjoyed this series. Hockey moves so fast on the ice that an inexperienced viewer could hardly be expected to follow the pace of the action, let alone the puck. One Brewers game in and I couldn’t tell you why some players were fighting on one side of the ice while the puck was down on the other end deciding the play. A slow beginning and a smoother operation after a couple of episodes is all good to me. Quite frankly I’m pleased at the actual amount of hockey activity. Unless you’re a hardcore fan, fewer hockey visuals is good hockey, (just enough) in my opinion (sorry if I’ve offended any sad Canadians — but I’m not into it one guy @wildone ).

Ouch! But fair. I have definitely been in a too long rut — there’s a great many words and ideas floating in the old noggin but when looking at the blank page … I get nothin’. Enough about me. I do appreciate the ideas offered above. And, @Cia I apologize for being so publicly cranky at your expense.

Blah, blah, blah and blah. I’m sorry @Cia but I don’t see how you added to the conversation — not one iota. You managed to reiterate the least common denominator considering the conversation however, and that’s NOT constructive in the least. Pick and choose you say, ‘Google the theme words’ you say, as if that has any meaning whatsoever. I expect better from you! One word inspirations are lacking, in my opinion. I can’t believe that I am the only person who thinks so. I suspect that the anthologies are disabusing and dissuading authors that otherwise might participate without much better input (direction) — notwithstanding the core principle authors that continually comply with the current perimeters to better or lesser measure — hit or miss as they do..

I get the whole one-word scenario construct, @Myr. But a reasonable diametric would suggest otherwise. Free form thinking is a fine construct but direction is so much a better construct than let it flow, let it flow, let it flow. People respond to direction better than they do to a vague impotence.

So, I hit the thumbs up button to indicate that I read the article, but no more than that. Horizons and Unspoken are the topics of the day and just how boring these one word subject topics stretch the imagination. They stretch the imagination far too far. I envision a far more robust direction. Such as including multiple wordings, ‘The Man in the Black Hat.’ or ‘Pizza for Three.’ These scenarios and subjectively others provide a vastly better opportunity to … well, to advance a more creative scenario than the one-word sound bites that are currently offered.

Already! I haven't gotten through last year's anthology stories yet. I'm a slow but methodical reader (apparently).

Does that mean that people need to begin @Ron’ing my name in order to get my attention? Enquiring minds and all that … you know. Get busy people! First comment — gets first reply. Lines are waiting!

Cheers for your 500th accomplishment Steve! Well done.

Nah, I have no idea what you’re going on about.

Goodness! What a first of the year word choice. Okay, I’m going to work with it: I sorded did nothing today — all day.

Does anyone remember when the studios were capable of producing hour-long episodes (with time out for commercials) of shows that lasted for twenty-eight weeks? Those were the good old days. In any event and despite my lack of interest in organized sports, I’ve been enjoying this season very much. There’s been talk about the importance of gay actors playing gay characters. I’m somewhat sympathetic. But then consider that straight actors can play gay characters and then go on to do other roles. It’s entirely possible that once a gay actor plays the gay character that they then become pigeonholed and only seen as capable of playing gay characters, and that’s limiting. It may be that gay actors don’t actually want the parts if they will later prove detrimental to their careers. Just a thought.

Wow! That is a lot of statistics. It's gratifying to know that folks are plugging away artistically with their writing (it's not always easy, I know) and that we all benefit from their work in one way or another. Thanks also to the owners and teams that keep everything running smoothly.

I was in bed by 10:30 and asleep not long after that, and I didn't get up until 11:00 am this morning. Yes, that's a lot of sleep! But it was necessary to my well being. I've had the cold from hell for the last nine weeks and when I can sleep, I take advantage of it. I heard nothing, zip, nada from fireworks last night. I forgot people did those things. I live on a hillock in a condo community that strictly enforces rules. No fun here let me tell you. But it is quiet. Between having the cold, it being pretty frigid with high winds nearly every day here on the coast, and not having a car my larder is getting thin do to a lack of grocery shopping (it looks like next Tuesday will be in the mid-thirties, I'll try then). So, the last of the eggs and spinach for a lunch omelet and the fallback of pasta and thawed frozen meatballs for dinner. I wish everyone well and a Happy New Year!

Charlie Hunnam. He was also one of the leading characters in Guillermo del Toro’s Pacific Rim movies.

I didn’t see anything like what you did. I thought the show represented something close to the reality of what sports would portray in their circumstances — from my perspective. One minute you’re on top of the world and the next minute … ? Of course it’s jarring, I think it was meant to be seen that way, and from a man’s perspective it works. Foundation? Men don’t need an underlying foundation to begin anything, not truly. We make our own version up as we go along. We rationalize things to fit our narrative — our need. Sometimes it works out and sometimes it falls apart. I’ve watched exactly one Bruins game in the arena in the twenty-something years I lived in Boston and the puck was there one moment and then somehow miraculously somewhere else before I saw it even move — so fast I couldn’t follow it in real time. The game is of course not entirely the real point of this show. It’s the skin (skin in the game, too, necessarily, I suppose). I’m perfectly alright with that and I’m fine with the men’s behavior as it’s being represented. Not everything needs to be fleshed out (no pun intended) to perfection. Too much of this and too much of that just gets in the way of entertainment in my opinion. For me this show has been a success.

There is that thing called suspension of disbelief. But I hear you. You have a line and one which you're not willing to cross.

I believe you'll be waiting a long long time for mainstream movies or television make anything other than comedy.

🤮 Dude! WTF?!

If one were to awaken with a hard-on that was vastly larger than normal for some reason, would that be considered an aberration? Asking for a friend. 😇

I'm listening to Yellow '40 Years' on Tidal Audio @48 khz / 24 bit via Tidal Audio. At the 51 percent volume level on my Marantz receiver (120 watts into 8 ohm, class A/B) it comes across very well on my speakers. A big hit was this compilation's version of 'Oh Yeah,' a song many of us already know (but you may never heard this song like this, better in every way in my opinion) from a movie enjoyed by many. And yet this comes across as wonderfully musical and beyond any musicality you may have heard in the movie - details. I'm very much enjoying the entire musical release of '40 Years.' I think you will, too. Give it a listen!

Nah, we got the gist of it. We’re okay!

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone since most can even drum a little something to be thankful for. Me, I’m thankful that my cold which lasted for a month is now gone. Otherwise, I’ve got some eggplant in the fridge and you if you guess I’m making eggplant Parmesan you would be correct. I may be eating Italian cuisine but at least it’s not spaghetti. I’m having a sliced deli turkey sandwich for lunch so I’ve at least covered the bird.

Thanksgiving usually means pasta for one, maybe a turkey sandwich for lunch. Christmas Day I might try for a complete meal of some sort, maybe with some ham but I think had pasta last year. Easter is an easy choice: lamb chops. I can usually find a package with 3 or 4 small chops and I’ll make mashed potatoes along with some of those skinny green beans for side-dishes.

From time to time I find something very interesting to listen to. Robert Plant said in a video I recently watched that the album Kronos Quartet Pieces of Africa was essential listening for him at an early time during Led Zeppelin's rise. Here is Escalay (Whaterwheel) for your enjoyment: I hope you enjoy this as much as I do. I encourage a full listen of the album.

I've been listening to Fink this year (a new artist discovery for me). Wheels Turn Beneath My Feet II which is presented live and is a hit with my music system. Here is a version of Resurgam, best listened to on good speakers with good bass underpinning, or a good pair of headphones.