Non-liars

So, once again I feel my English language has failed me. There are not enough nuanced words for liars (Unless they're dressed-up in explicative adjectives).

Lying. Now, I’m terrible at lying. I'm only good with strangers, such as the people on Melrose Blvd with their clipboards who are trying to make street walking legal. I decline to pause because "I just don't have the time." But really, if I’m on Melrose I’ve nothing but time, why else would I be there? Otherwise I’m honest, and thanks to my genes, almost painfully. Although thank goodness my vocabulary comes to my rescue; I’m able to modify, directly address the particular hard-to-be-honest-about issue at-hand and hopefully with a world of tact.

Now, the reason my language fails me with lying is that there are so many types of lies: big lies, little lies, white lies, lies we tell to be nice -- make things easier, yet they all really only have one word.

My biggest problem right now is with the Non-Lie. The non-lie, to me, is when one deliberately chooses NOT to disclose something which is a rather big deal. Say, "I have a wife," "a boyfriend," "I’m looking for a new job," "I have a three-year old kid." This variety of big stuff to me should come up with someone you know. I’m fairly old-fashioned (Those who know me are familiar with my Victorian Walls), so if I’ve considered someone a friend (Another word that infuriates me in this happy language o' English), this type of BIG STUFF should come up sooner than later.

Non-lies are quiet, restless. They huddle in the corners teasingly. They have a presence and a weight yet go unnamed. They also are big enough so that others generally know about them already, so more often than not you find out about them through other mediums. (Ahh, technology. Even if you're not snooping you can get run over by a mac truck on the internet.)

And so when the non-lie is revealed, usually coming up way too late in the relationship. Whoa, nelly. You start questioning EVERYTHING that ever occurred between you & the Non-Liar, 'specially if you're like me. It simply ruins the trust and those few and all-too-rare moments when you were content with that other person (I’m talking all walks here, people; friends, lovers, co-workers, parents) become smashed into little bloody pieces.

Now, I’m not advocating running our mouths off to every tom, dick & mary we meet, but I feel when a relationship (You guessed it, another word I’m afraid of) reaches a certain point, certain information should be discussed, if necessary.

Whew. Sorry for the rant & yes I'm going on four hours of sleep and have been snipered by not one non-lie but TWO in the last 24 hours. Awesome.

The Fantastic Mr. Anderson

So I was on a tangent today about lovely, lovely Mr. Director, Wes Anderson and I started spastically blabbering about his next project. Well, not his next, but his next next. It seems that once again the release date has been pushed for the Roald Dahl novel-turned-animated-film, The Fantastic Mr. Fox. i mean, we've heard whispers of this since 2004, what the heck?

So, i imdb'ed it and guess what? The release date is now 2009, great. Last time i checked (maybe 6-8 months ago) it was 2007!

So the conversation just got me thinking about Mr. Anderson: Rushmore, Royal Tenenbaums, Life Aquatic, even that odd American Express commercial... So yes, I'm describing a lack, a need. My point; it's beena while since Steve Zissou, people. (There is the next project, something about Tea, but i had my heart set on Dahl's piece.)

Don't get me wrong, the Casio-keyboard-themed flick is grand. But it makes me a little sad when comparing to the first two films. I feel like Mr. Anderson thought he had to spend his entire budget on CGI fishes and mucho explosions and we lost a bit of the story and characters amongst all the hub-bub.

Hence, why I am looking forward to what Anderson will do in his stop-animated version of this children's classic. Anyway, the info is starting to be out there (that is info dated since 2005): So, Mr. Clooney just signed on for the voice of the title role, Mr. Foxy himself. And it definitely helps that my favorite, Ms. Blanchett, along with Jason Schwartzman & statuesque Angelica Huston are seemingly onboard. Fear not, the UK is all over it, so for more info take a gander at the Guardian.

So, there it is. Or isn't. Either way, it's going to be an Anderson fest this weekend, me thinks...

Books, books, books

Okay, so sadly there are a lot of not-so-good books out there.
Sadder still is that there are loads of really, really good books out there, but how-oh-how to unearth those gems? Recommendations are rockin' but I feel like many of us are in the same vicious cycle of not knowing where to begin to find the good books.

I'm a self-proclaimed word whore, so part of the reason I started this blog was to do mini-reviews and suggestions for, well, things! books, of course, but also music, film, food, art, fun stuff, new rides at disneyland, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.
This is a big world & the only way to tackle it is piece by piece & sharing! (As scary as it is, Barney, that goofy dino was right.).

So, recently I had the pleasure of reading David Mitchell's 2006 novel, "Black Swan Green." And to echo the words of the protagonist, this book is "epic." Well, not the "Gone with the Wind" epic variety, but in the quiet, easy and luscious story of a year in the life of a thirteen-year-old boy growing-up in a UK burb. It reminds me a lot of our own Holden Caulfield (sans the pink shirt), but more relatable and just as sarcastic. (More relatable because we have more characters around to offer views and interact, whereas Holden was distant and removed.) The first person voice is well-crafted and rich in detail and turning this boy's experiences into vivid images as he wrestles with the confident older sib, the squawking parents, the bullies at school, trying to make with girls, his non de plume, and all with a comic, self-criticizing voice that reminds me of my own teenage years.

Anyway, this author is fantastic. This is the second book that I've read ("Cloud Atlas" being my first and I've one word for that book: WOW.) and I look forward to picking up "Ghostwritten" --as soon as I finish the precarious stack on my nighstand.

For more deets on the man behind the words, check these out: http://ianhocking.com/2007/03/david-mitchell-podcast-now-then.html
http://books.guardian.co.uk/manbooker2006/story/0,,1852819,00.html#article_continue

Friends, Romans & anyone else, lend me your eyeballs as i embark on what i hope to be regular diatribes of humor, life & randomness.

I realize this is mostly for me, 10% for my pals (goodness, they love me if they are taking the time...) and then perhaps a few of you are just a little lost in the www. Whatever category you fall under, welcome!



i am a neophyte in this land of technology, but we're giving this a whirl.

My thought for today is: Babies in movie theaters. Period. Let alone movies that get out a 3am. WTF? i mean, they are usually sleeping, but why? why are they not in comfy cribs & beds? why am i tripping over a stroller as my popcorn & i slouch in a comfy seat? i kinda think these people should be offered birthcontrol & a pamphlet on The First 5, 'cause the movie theater is not the place to bring your babies. And i'm not talking about a sweet Merchant-Ivory-type fare, no, no, no. We're talking violent, shoot-'em-up drivel. I'm sure that the subconscious sponge of a six month old is the perfect forum for dolby surround sound of machine guns & nuclear bombs. Meh, meh, meh!