A Light, Lost... RIP, Duane

There are many ways to live life.
Some live mostly for themselves, some live mostly for others, and, some special people form a perfect balance of both.

Duane Redmond was one of the special people.

For himself, D loved good company, good food, a good joke, and, a better wager. He took enjoyment very seriously, and seriously enjoyed his moments. A conversation- he always gave his full attention. A game score- he always knew that, too.

For others, D was a listener, an understander. He didn't just offer his hand for a handshake, he offered a contagious smile, along with brightening eyes. His happiness, within a group setting, spread quickly to all in that setting.

I also know that D could be very introspective. D was a Jack of Many Trades, but, he was never the Fool. Insight, and advice, from D was always worth more than the moment deemed. His knowledge and wisdom made me think that he looked great, for being 75.

Unfortunately, his mental acuity wasn't physically matched. For those of us who knew him, a truly individual, unique, light was lost. For those who never met him, you really missed out...

46 years-old is far too soon. I simply can't believe I'm saying, "Rest in peace, Duane Redmond. You are missed. I will, silently, root for the Washington Redskins, from now on."

An Addictive Act, Again....

In between classes, last Wednesday, I was, yet again- and, many times over- asked for a spare cigarette. In one encounter, my reply makes for a blog-entry..............

Douche: Hey, can you spare a cigarette?
Me: No.
Douche: Not a giver, huh?
Me: I used to be, but then, I moved to this city.
Douche: *walks away*

I have a prior blog about this sort of thing...

When I wrote that previous blog, I was living in metro Atlanta, and, had no idea...

Now, I get asked for a cigarette around 20-50 times a day: slightly more so, when walking. (I have a transit pass, these days, so I don't walk as often, but, it hasn't really reduced the requests).

Not a giver? Let's all do some math!
I smoke a pack a day- that's $6- I get asked, um, average it at 35 times... that's over a pack and a half! So, my pack ($6) 1.5 packs, for vagrants (can't buy packs, by the half) is $12...
$18 a day, to say, "Yes."
LOL, SCREW THAT! I'm not sure if Bill Gates could afford to provide long term access to cigarettes for these people.
I'm no Bill Gates. Therefore, I'm required to say No.

Not a giver? Really? The better question is, "Not a billionaire?"

Along with all my, "No," responses, I've started to get get a better understanding of the term, "Enabling."

The 83rd annual Academy Awards

The complete list of nominations, along with my picks:

15 correct - 9 wrong... terrible! Next time, I should see the movies.

Best picture

• "Black Swan"

• "The Fighter"

• "Inception"

• "The Kids Are All Right"

• ("The King’s Speech")✔
  

• "127 Hours"

• "The Social Network"

• "Toy Story 3"

• "True Grit"

• "Winter’s Bone"

Actor

• Javier Bardem, "Biutiful"

• Jeff Bridges, "True Grit"

• Jesse Eisenberg, "The Social Network"

• (Colin Firth, "The King's Speech")✔
  

• James Franco, "127 Hours"

Actress

• Annette Bening, "The Kids Are All Right"

• Nicole Kidman, "Rabbit Hole"

• Jennifer Lawrence, "Winter's Bone"

• (Natalie Portman, "Black Swan")✔
  

• Michelle Williams, "Blue Valentine"

Supporting actor

• (Christian Bale, "The Fighter")✔
  

• John Hawkes, "Winter's Bone"

• Jeremy Renner, "The Town"

• Mark Ruffalo, "The Kids Are All Right"

• Geoffrey Rush, "The King's Speech"

Supporting actress

• (Amy Adams, "The Fighter") X
  

• Helena Bonham Carter, "The King's Speech"

• Melissa Leo, "The Fighter"✔
  

• Hailee Steinfeld, "True Grit"

• Jacki Weaver, "Animal Kingdom"

Director

• Darren Aronofsky, "Black Swan"

• David O. Russell, "The Fighter"

• Tom Hooper, "The King's Speech"✔
  

• (David Fincher, "The Social Network") X
  

• Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, "True Grit"

Animated feature

• "How to Train Your Dragon"

• "The Illusionist"

• ("Toy Story 3")✔
  

Adapted screenplay

• "127 Hours"

• ("The Social Network") ✔
  

• "Toy Story 3"

• "True Grit"

• "Winter’s Bone"

Original screenplay

• "Another Year"

• "The Fighter"

• "Inception"
  

• "The Kids Are All Right"

• ("The King’s Speech")✔
  

Foreign language film

• ("Biutiful") X
  

• "Dogtooth"

• "In a Better world"✔
  

• "Incendies"

• "Outside the Law"

Art direction

• ("Alice in Wonderland") ✔
  

• "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I"

• "Inception"

• "The King's Speech"

• "True Grit"

Cinematography

• “Black Swan”

• “Inception”✔
  

• (“The King's Speech”) X
  

• “The Social Network”

• “True Grit”
  

Costume design

• "Alice in Wonderland"✔
  

• "I Am Love"

• "The King's Speech"
  

• "The Tempest"

• ("True Grit") X
  

Documentary feature

• ("Exit Through the Gift Shop") X
  

• "Gasland"

• "Inside Job"✔
  

• "Restrepo"

• "Waste Land"

Documentary short

• "Killing in the Name"

• ("Poster Girl") X
  

• "Strangers No More"✔
  

• "Sun Come Up"

• "The Warriors of Qiugang"

Film editing

• ("Black Swan") X
  

• "The Fighter"

• "The King's Speech"

• "127 Hours"

• "The Social Network"✔
  

Makeup

• “Barney's Version”

• “The Way Back”

• (“The Wolfman”) ✔
  

Sound mixing

• (“Inception”) ✔
  

• “The King's Speech”

• “Salt”

• “The Social Network”

• “True Grit”

Original score

• “How to Train Your Dragon”

• “Inception”

• “The King's Speech”

• “127 Hours”

• (“The Social Network”) ✔
  

Visual effects

• “Alice in Wonderland”

• “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1”

• “Hereafter”

• (“Inception”) ✔
  

• “Iron Man 2”

Original song

• “Coming Home” from “Country Strong”

• “I See the Light” from “Tangled”

• “If I Rise” from “127 Hours”

• (“We Belong Together” from “Toy Story 3") ✔
  

Sound editing

• "Inception" ✔
  

• ("Toy Story 3") X
  

• "Tron: Legacy"

• "True Grit"

• "Unstoppable"

Animated short film

• "Day & Night"

• "The Gruffalo"

• "Let's Pollute"

• ("The Lost Thing") ✔
  

• "Madagascar, carnet de voyage"

Live action short film

• "The Confession"

• ("The Crush") X
  

• "God of Love" ✔
  

• "Na Wewe"

• "Wish 143"

One Moment

Last night, I was having a discussion, when suddenly(!) I reminded myself of something. It was a moment in time, frozen and cherished, forever.

A few months ago, I was walking down Post Street, in Union Square. I was just looking for a diner. It was was early; about 5 am. Yes, early. I had woke up, after a worthless sleep, and, was trying to find a SF equivalent to Waffle House.
I came to an intersection, and, noticed a couple arguing. Apparently, she was done with this guy, and, he was continuously begging for forgiveness. Who knows why; It doesn't matter...

Anyway, she was getting fed-up with his begging, and as I was crossing the street, toward them, she exploded.
"This isn't working! You're an ass!" she yelled.
Everyone, myself included, kept an eye on them.

Then, out of the blue, a homeless man approached them. He got within five feet of them, and (with a really good voice) broke into, "Unchained Melody."
"Oooohh, my love, myyyy daaaaaaarling......"
I, and other passers-by, busted out laughing. It was too funny!

I never broke stride, so, I found myself out of earshot quickly. Now, I wish I had stopped, to get this couple's reaction. I know that the girl gave a quick chuckle, but, I'm unsure of anything beyond that. I do know that the homeless man kept singing. He was at the top of his lungs, and could easily be heard three blocks away.

So far, this is my favorite, "Street Moment," in San Francisco. It was a nice change of pace. Usually, I'm just getting asked for cigarettes, or spare change...

A Rant, on the New Huckleberry Finn

I'm a reader. I enjoy the idea of a novel. Also, I've read them all (not literally), from the great, to the experimental, to the terrible.... Certain works really do stand apart. War and Peace is exceptional for it's detail, Jane Eyre is the definitive first-person narrative, and, Huckleberry Finn captures a region, at an important time. Among many classic works, these novels will always be around. They each capture a niche, that one of any modern reader would want to latch onto. These particular classics maintain, too, the essential devices that make reading (and, writing, too) great. You are looking into particular moments within a character's life, where they are totally out of their element. It's hardship. It's a struggle. It's also the world around, which doesn't always use happy language.

When I heard of a publisher removing, "Nigger," and, "Injun," from Huckleberry Finn, I was immediately offended. The importance (and, the reason it has hung around) of this novel is not the language, or any racism, but instead, the coming-of-age, and acceptance, of Huck Finn. The language is vital to this novel, because it's important to know just how far Huck comes, over a couple dozen chapters. Without the bigotry, where is Huck's heroism? What, then, is the point of the book?

Obviously, this publisher doesn't understand an, "Artist's Intent." Even as rarely as I write, I understand that it isn't the first draft, that gets published. A writer alters. Changes are always required. Mark Twain didn't write Huckleberry Finn on a napkin! I forget the exact number, but, I think, "Nigger," is mentioned 129 times. Probably 129 times by design. Did Twain have a child born on December 9th? Nevermind, that's over analyzing!

I was going to stay in a fit of rage, over this, but, I found a calming force. At this moment, I'd like to thank Neil Gaiman, for wasting his time to answer my dumb question. I guess my grip on Artistic Integrity, blinded me from the Public Domain aspect. I'd also like to thank you, Neil Gaiman, for the idea of Klingon Huck. Very amusing!

What I've learned, is that fury won't get me anywhere. Huck Finn is a Klingon at heart (No wonder Star Trek TNG visited Mark Twain).

All I need to do, to preserve American Literature, is never buy a copy of the neutered Huckleberry Finn....

Transfer Complete?

Horaay!

I think I've got this, "Re-directing," thing down... From now on, instead of danielpatrickjones.com leading to a worthless self-built site, that I'll never develop; it'll lead here, to a worthless pre-built site, that I'll never update. It's pure sweetness!

We know if you've been bad or good....

poem 3

All these things have a certain effect,
and, too many are more direct.
I seek those things that must change,
but, clarity is far out of range.
Words fail, ideas crumble; and, I fall.
A cab? Yeah, I’ll make the call!

New Stuff?

Perhaps.
Very soon, I hope to add new, and, re-worked posts.

A Further Adventure of Winnie the Pooh (first version)

As the morning sun rose over the trees, Winnie the Pooh came across his friends at a
clearing in the woods. "Hello" he said to Rabbit, Tigger, and Piglet. They each returned his greeting, then Tigger said "where's Christopher Robin?". Pooh frowned and said "He is staying in his room all morning, says he's going be with Victoria."
"Who's Victoria?" asked Rabbit. Pooh sighed... "I dunno, I haven't met her yet."
"Well, if he wants to spend this whole morning with her, she must be a nice person" said Rabbit. "Yes, very nice" chimed in Piglet. "I suppose," said Pooh as he stared at the ground, then added, "he says she has a secret to tell him."
Tigger sprung to his feet, "Ooh... She should tell her secret to me! We Tigger's are
the best at keeping secrets!"
"No, no, Tigger" said Rabbit, "She doesn't know you... It is a secret, after all". Tigger reluctantly agreed and sat back down. "How long has Christopher Robin known her?" asked Piglet. "I'm not sure" said Pooh, "I think he met her at school."
"Gee Pooh" said Piglet, "I'm not sure they know each other well enough to be tellin' secrets. This whole thing makes me a little nervous."
"Everything," said Rabbit annoyingly, "makes you nervous Piglet."

At that moment, Eeyore came slowly into the clearing. "Hey everybody" he said quietly. "Hello Eeyore" they all said at once. "What are you guys talking about?" asked Eeyore. Tigger was back on his feet, "Christopher Robin is visiting with a girl this morning, and they're sharin' secrets! I wish I could be there too, we tiggers are soooo good with keeping secrets!" "Tigger..." said Rabbit and Tigger sat back down. "Hmm, I don't know" said Eeyore, "I don't like secrets. They're always so mysterious, and I don't like mysteries either."
"Yes" said Piglet, "Eeyore's right. I think we should go to the house and stop this entire thing... maybe." And Tigger was back on his feet "Yes!" he shouted, "it'll be our biggest adventure ever... To keep the secret a secret!"
"I'm not sure we should interfere" said Pooh, "I think he was looking forward to this."
"I think I agree with Piglet" said Rabbit, "I think secret are something Chirstopher Robin doesn't need to be involved with. I say we go to the house."
Pooh looked up, and at his friends. Then he said "I suppose, I mean... I think we will be helping him, and I will do anything to help Christopher Robin."
"It's settled then" said Rabbit. "Oh, boy. Let's go" added Tigger.

As the sun continued to rise over the trees, Winnie the Pooh and his friends marched
through the woods. They were all determined to get to Christopher Robin's house and keep that secret, a secret...

A Little Perspective

One day recently at work I was explaining to a co-worker some of the reasons why I don’t get angry while I’m there. I finished my sermon with “So basically, at two dollars and some change an hour, it isn’t worth it for me to get all bent out of shape.” Her response to my many excellent points was this: “you have a really good perspective.” Perspective. What does that word mean anymore? It’s easy for one to lose their perspective in a world where they can buy and sell items with someone in Moscow (or any other spot on earth). I wonder; if I really had perspective, shouldn’t I just come across a lot of money (probably “illegally”) and spend my very limited time on this speck, hurling through an infinite universe, having as much fun as I can. I should travel across the globe (probably “robbing” some banks along the way) and experience as much as I can during this galactic blink. Time is so fleeting, and I’m wasting it scratching out a meager paycheck. I could be sipping martinis under the Eiffel Tower while waiting for a flight to Australia, to try a little koala wrestling. Koala wrestling is just one of the millions upon millions of things I have not yet done during this cosmic snap of the fingers. Of course, I couldn’t let the pursuit of multiple law enforcement agencies get me down, as I venture to make the most of my time. They probably wouldn’t understand anyway. I would have to leave them notes that say “but the sun will burn out in 15 billion years, there is no time” on the pillows of the motel rooms I stayed in… perhaps other notes that say “earth is only 4 billion years old, far too early to judge my actions”. Hopefully, I would be able to avoid capture long enough to leave many such notes and they will start to see things from my perspective. At last, when they stop referring to my journey as a “crime spree”, I know I’ll be on easy street. “Finally”, I would say “looks like they are starting to see my point of view”. Me, my loot, “forged” documents, and Jenna Fischer (did I mention that she’d come with me?) would then be able to experience as much as possible during this plenum blip, so long as we keep a low profile.

poem 2 (an ad-lib)

Within the longest hours of the day
Trying to make the keyboard obey
The mind goes on a different path
Placing me in an inexpressive wrath
I try to collect these thoughts unseen
And find myself taking in more nicotine
The laziness overt
My brain now inert
And spilling out dirt
Where’s my lucky shirt
Perhaps if I could find an idea machine
It could keep these lines out of the latrine
Instead here is my humdrum warpath
Leaving ennui like a ring in the bath
I think poetry may not be my forte
Fine this time for I must dump my ashtray

an addictive act

I have smoked cigarettes for years. There might come a day when I decide, truly, to quit. Today isn’t that day though, I enjoy it too much. The actual smoking is what I enjoy, not so much the occasional coughing, or the nic fit when I go without for a while.
Anyway, those trivial matters aside; it’s what it is, to be a real smoker, which I would like to discuss.
There are a lot of things to consider, being a smoker. I will list a few here:
1) Having at least one pack, always
2) Having the money for said pack (and back-ups)
3) Having a working lighter
4) Having additional back-up packs
5) Having a back-up lighter
6) Knowing where all this stuff is
7) Making sure this stuff is easily accessible
8) Knowing where smoking is allowed (this gets more difficult each day)
9) Having at least one pack, always
The nature of the addiction is to make number one important, therefore, it must be mentioned twice.
So, having laid down a few basics, I will let my rant begin.
In most any social setting, at any time, I find myself going through the same scene. I can’t seem to avoid it, and I’m resigned to always playing my part. One day, I’ll ad-lib (if I really need to get into an argument, or a fight), but for now, the scene goes something like this:

Act 1- Scene1
Curtain rises on a bunch of people, standing outside a night-club. Danny stands at stage left, quietly enjoying his cigarette. After a minute, Random Guy makes his entrance.
Random Guy: “Sup”
Danny: “Sup”
Random Guy lingers around for a moment.
Random Guy: “Hey, can I get a smoke from you?”
Danny: “Sure, here”
Danny rummages around in his pocket, withdraws a pack, removes and hands over a cigarette.
Random Guy: “Thanks, man”
Danny: “No problem” Then turns, and goes back to enjoying his cigarette.
Random Guy: “Um, you gotta light?”
Danny: (sighs) “Yea, here…”
Danny reaches back into his pocket, and pulls out a cheap lighter. The kind of cheap lighter that anyone can find, for like, 99 cents at any convenience store, anywhere. I mean, there is practically a Quik-Trip on every street corner. I’m not talking about forming an expedition, to find the Holy Grail; I’m talking about buying a Bic. Then he lights the cigarette.
Danny: “Perhaps you’d like me to smoke it too. Ha, ha.” A loud chortle, to make Random Guy think he’s just kidding.
Random Guy: “Ha, ha… Yea, so anyway, thanks”
Danny: “Hey, don’t mention it”
Random Guy exits. Danny finishes his cigarette.
End scene: Curtain comes down.

Such real life events never win a Tony Award, and that’s too bad, or I would have run out of room in my trophy case years ago. But, I want to point out a few things in that scene. You probably noticed that Random Guy hadn’t covered any of the basics, which I outlined earlier. I need to say, Random Guy took a hit of the cigarette, and he didn’t turn green and start an uncontrollable coughing fit. He actually is a smoker! I simply don’t understand it. Is it the cost of smoking? Would he just rather me pay for his habit? These things are near four dollars a pack! I spend enough, just to support my own consumption. Did he run out? I run out, it happens, but, I don’t throw my lighter away when I do. Is he in the process of quitting? I’ve been there, done that. If you’re going to smoke one, you might as well just buy a pack, because it doesn’t work that way. I tell people that I quit every time I put one out, but, serious quitting is all or nothing (and you can ask Preston about that, too. Or, any other former smoker).
I’m a nicotine junkie, therefore I adhere to the previously mentioned basics. When I plan to drive anywhere, I carry my keys. If I plan to buy something, I carry money. Knowing I’m going to smoke, I keep the necessary implements on my person. These, in my mind, are all proverbial American Express cards- “Never leave home without it.”
But then, I did say “in my mind,” and that makes it all complete, utter, universal, and absolute nonsense…