Catharsis:
Pronunciation: \kə-ˈthär-səs\
Function: noun
2 a: purification or purgation of the emotions primarily through art.
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By Justin Matthews, on January 29th, 2010
I love books. I love to read. I have loved to read since I was little. I have always written too but that is another post. I remember reading The Hobbit and The Wizard of Oz in third grade, much to the chagrin of my classmates. I read mysteries, histories, fantasies, and spy novels. The only problem I have is the same as many others. Too many books, too little time. (Always good to throw in a cliche or 2)
I have floor to ceiling bookshelves in my basement and 3/4 of those are filled with novels. Novels to re-read and novels waiting to be read. I highly recommend going to the library surplus sales and picking up nearly anything with the “Readers Choice” sticker on it. I have found some very satisfying reads in those collections, many from new authors. The last sale I went to, it was almost over at
Continue reading Books: Audio vs. Print, Showdown in the Library!
By Justin Matthews, on January 28th, 2010
I got all of my stuff together today did my taxes. I guess it’s just me but I don’t think it is that big of a deal. I do use one of the online preparation things and efile but it is not that bad to do . I guess it will be harder if I ever have to use more than the standard deduction.
Long and the short, taxes done, refund on the way, didn’t die doing it. It makes me wonder about some people though. Those who don’t pay their taxes and end up in prison. Why? Like I said, mine are easy, I know others are more complex and there are a myriad of laws that govern them.
Accountants have a job this season that’s for sure. And if you win $1,000,000 on survivor, the government gets half. That is not new! People have been joking about that forever.
This post sucks.
Continue reading Taxes…Not Quite Dead Yet
By Justin Matthews, on January 27th, 2010
I was watching a video with my 3 year old yesterday. It was the raw footage of our vacation to Disneyland last fall. I realized a few things while watching this. First I really need to edit the thing, I seem to have a lens cap problem and recording the inside of said lens cap. Second, although these are “precious memories”, are they really necessary? The video that is not the memories. Those are what is important.
I have always liked the idea of video cameras and the wonders of home movies. But many times I watch them and wonder if a slide show of still pics would be better. There is something that I like about looking at the split second captured in a picture. I like to remember what it felt like and what I was thinking when it was taken.
I
Continue reading Videotape and Memories, Some Things Best Left to Still Pictures
By Justin Matthews, on January 26th, 2010
Growing up I always wanted to be like my Dad. He was strong, smart, and full of a barely restrained rage that got him through the tough times. I learned many things working around the house with him and I just didn’t get other things that he really hoped were ingrown in HIS son. Alas, in several ways I am a miserable failure in his eyes.
Not the least of which has been my decisions since I started to have kids. I have tried to finish college several times now and I am very close. It just seems like things keep getting in the way and I am left being a stay at home dad. Don’t get me wrong, I love my kids and this is a fantastic opportunity to bond with them when they are young. Think how it must (and does)
Continue reading The Footsteps of My Mother…How I Follow.
By Justin Matthews, on January 22nd, 2010
I love to be inspired. I’m sure everyone does at some point. It is great to sit down and be struck in the face with a fantastic posting idea but lets face it, how often does that actually happen? How much more realistic is is to have a great idea on the way to the bathroom or in line at the bank?
I keep a digital recorder around to hang onto these ideas. That doesn’t mean any of those ideas will ever see the light of day or be pounded into my computer. There are the days when I do have an idea and can get it down quickly so it works. There are days when I play around on the internet and am extremely undisciplined because I am doing “research” or “learning” and it is all BS. These are the days when it is dinnertime and I realize that I still
Continue reading Waiting for Inspiration, A Sure Way to Fail.
By Justin Matthews, on January 21st, 2010
Do you like old radio? I do. I love to listen to what was entertainment before Philo T. Farnsworth turned on his brain and invented the television.
I was letting my computer randomize songs and one of these old shows came on. It happened to be “The Fat Man” from 1946. This character was one of Daishell Hammett’s creations. If you don’t know, Daishell Hammett pretty much created the hard boiled detective noir genre. The Maltese Falcon, and Sam Spade were his, as were many other entries in Black Mask Magazine and several old radio shows. If you like Dead Med Don’t Wear Plaid, think Daishell Hammett.
Listening to this show, I realized how far entertainment has come whether for good or bad. In today’s world, there is so much visual and so many things that can be done with special effects that the writing does not have to be very descriptive in
Continue reading What old radio has taught me about writing and imagination
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