The Importance of Learning History

It is the Fourth of July weekend! I am off from work on Friday, so that theoretically gives me time to sit and work more on this Saturday Note. In practice? Uh…. don’t know about that, champs. I had trouble coming up with a subject. I know I told you guys I was going to do Star Wars, but given the holiday I thought it might be nicer to do something related to the country or history or something.

The filler title in my planner was ‘Hope for the Future’, but, uh… it’s not that I have no hope, okay, it’s just that I’m not someone who can exactly do rousing calls for hope. It’d probably end up making me sound stupider than usual.

I also finished Andor and Dragon Age: Inquisition! Next game will probably be God of War, while the next television show is… probably back to Burn Notice. Although the new Librarians is also on Hulu right now.

Books Are Not Movies

I am almost finished with Andor, and DANG this is good stuff. Talking about Andor might end up being next week’s Saturday Note (“Star Wars Without the Jedi”) or something like that? Stay tuned.

Presently, I’m reading Crown of Vengeance by Lackey and Mallory, which is, uh, longer than I expected. Also a lot of long elven names which is taking some getting used to. I have a trip this weekend so I should have time to get through a large chunk of it, though.

Meaningless Tropes

It’s my mother’s birthday today!

A bit of an odd week, though sometimes it seems as if I say that every week. Work is… work, though at least I got to read a couple of delightful books. Presently re-reading The Immortal Fire, the third and final book of Anne Ursu’s Cronus Chronicles. Season two of Andor is presently on Hulu (for about two weeks, anyway), and I’m giving that a go. I might re-watch Netflix’s Marco Polo after finishing The Residence–or maybe just Hundred Eyes’ scenes.

The Dragon Prince & Forgiveness

I am massively behind on writing this because the Friday night church thing took longer than I’d like (though I kind of expected it to take a while?). I should have started writing this days beforehand.

Presently watching The Residence on Netflix, which is kind of like if Shonda Rhimes tried doing her own Knives Out? Entertaining so far. Book right now is O’Connor’s final Dracopedia. There’s an article about the behind-the-scenes drama behind the development of Dragon Age: Veilguard out by Schreier on Bloomberg, if you’re into that sort of thing (and know how to bypass paywalls).

And UGH laptop updated again this week. Of course, the shower rod, also being a fiend from Hell, also decided to fall down of its own accord again….

You Can’t Speedrun a Fallen Hero Arc

Had a bit of a trash week, but no one cares and also I have a cool weekend! A little vacation, if you will. I finished The Recruit on Netflix (which has James Purefoy in it???), and on Hulu I’m alternating between Elementary and Burn Notice.

Now our conversation turns to that subject that our minds always return to when we wish to stimulate deep thought: BIONICLE.

Status Quo Must Be Established Before It’s Changed

My laptop is, once again, a massive raging douchebag. It began updating Thursday morning, and didn’t finish until Friday evening. UGH. I should get a new one.

I read Impossible Creatures this week, which was quite good, and kind of led to my thoughts here in a very roundabout way. Now I’m reading The Fifth Elephant by Pratchett. Also, I liveblogged my rewatch of BIONICLE3: Web of Shadows a couple of days back, so if you’re on Tumblr you can check that out.

I saw an article about the video game Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 from Polygon, where the writer said, “I can’t wait for it to be adapted to live-action!” and that just made me furious. Not everything needs to be turned into live-action! Doofuses!

Next week I will try to attend an arts festival so I might not be able to write a Saturday Note then.

Can I Do Film Criticism?

Hey! The numbers in the date are the same forwards and backwards!

I am getting random body aches sometimes, which is worrisome. Other than that, though, I’m doing okay. Presently reading Breath of the Dragon by Shannon Lee and Fonda Lee (who are not related, I don’t think), and almost done with season one of The Recruit. I am trying to clean out the Frostback Basin in Dragon Age: Inquisition, and then I should be able to race towards the endgame.

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade might be coming back to theaters for Father’s Day? Look out for that.

Is Bad Representation Worse Than No Representation?

My eye is still partially red, my shoulder somehow hurt itself on Wednesday, while I squished my hand in a car door yesterday. Somehow.

Presently, I am reading Children of Ragnarok by Cinda Williams Chima, and watching The Recruit on Netflix and Burn Notice on Hulu (occasionally catching an episode of Elementary). I have some Batman and Star Wars comics to read, too.

I’m trying to clean up on Dragon Age: Inquisition! Let’s see if I can get to the finale soonish.

Swearing in Fiction

We have a new Pope! Leo XIV! I thought the process would take longer, but I’m glad that it’s been taken care of.

There has been a bit of red in my eye since last weekend. That’s a bit troubling, but it’s not affecting my vision or anything, so I suspect it will probably go away soon enough.

I finished season three of the newest Jurassic Park cartoon, so I need to find something new on Netflix. I am reading Ithaca by Claire North, which I am surprisingly fond of thus far?

Prequel Discourse

Last Saturday, I went to see the twentieth anniversary re-release of Revenge of the Sith in theaters. And it was fun! I had a lot of thoughts about it. Hopefully, there will be a Movie Munchies review, though I’m a bit behind on things there. I meant to have up a Fellowship of the Ring review and that’s lagging.

I have a busy weekend, so I started working on this ahead of time. I am presently reading The Divider, a nonfiction account of our president’s tumultuous first term in office. After that… re-read Delilah Dirk, probably? And I have some other nonfiction books from the library to get through.

I might need a new planner soon.

Tomorrow is Star Wars Day!

On Sin in Fiction

With Pope Francis’s passing, I sometimes considered writing a Saturday Note about the Pope and his legacy, because I have a lot of mixed, complicated feelings on it, especially since there are so many really bad takes out there–so many of them are like, “He fixed the Church!” and, uh… no, he didn’t.

Anyhow, that’s all I’ll say for now. If you want that essay or discussion, let me know.

I finished the episodes of Brooklyn 99 that are on Netflix, and am starting Jurassic World: Chaos Theory. I have another Scott Pilgrim comic for the weekend, and this afternoon, for the 20th anniversary of Revenge of the Sith, I’m seeing the movie in the theater.

Also! Today in 1478, the Pazzi family tried to murder the Medicis at Mass (this is depicted in Assassin’s Creed II) and in 1865, John Wilkes Booth was shot.

On Messianic Figures

Easter is just around the corner; the holiest day of the year. Celebrate when it gets here! Eat some Peeps! And by that I mean the marshmallows, not people. Also please don’t throw eggs at people. Easter is part of the inspiration for this Note, but I also was thinking about Dune, Wheel of Time, and this video from Breaking in the Habit.

Here’s a couple of links about Easter, by the by.

I just finished reading Carpe Jugulum, and next is a book of short stories, I think.

On Creature Designs

Welp, I had a very good Friday night dinner, but it also means I’m a bit late on typing out the note, though I have some written notes.

I am trying to write a good, comprehensive review of the director’s cut of Kingdom of Heaven that encapsulates all of my thoughts. I don’t know when that will be finished, though. The books I hoped to pick up at the library this week hadn’t come in when I went, so I’m not sure what’s next after this Celtic mythology book.

Also, did you know Michael B. Jordan is in an episode of Burn Notice?

Have the Kids These Days Seen The Wizard of Oz?

So I spent most of Friday being monstrously hungry, for reasons that are unclear…

I am finishing up my re-read of Codex Alera by Jim Butcher, and it’s going well! Next is Earthsea, I think? I tried out the first episode of the new Netflix Devil May Cry, and it’s… eh? It wants to turn the story into one about American imperialism and intolerance after 9/11, which is a frankly bizarre direction to take the adaptation of a mostly light-hearted video game series about killing demons not set in the US.

I successfully made cake waffles earlier this week? That may have been the highlight of the month.

Fantasy Doesn't Have to Be Realistic

 I’m running very late with writing this Saturday Note, and it has been a heck of a Friday, what with traffic problems, stomach problems, allergy problems, and also the smoke detector refuses to accept a new battery. I would normally detach it and hide it somewhere, but I can’t figure out how to detach the thing from the ceiling. It’s entirely possible I might shoot the thing. With what? I don’t know!

I kind of wanted to do something for Women’s History Month, but I can’t think of a really solid idea for that. I dunno. Look up Khutulun or something.

Dramatic Gaps in Prose

So, a couple of weeks ago I was under the weather, but I got better! And then the pollen hit, and I’m back to coughing like I’m sick. Other than that, I’m feeling okay, though. Finished Star Wars: Cestus Deception, and my favorite character was the snail lawyer, and presently working through Andor.

Monday, there was an event at the library about illuminated manuscripts, and we watched Secret of Kells, which is a fantastic movie. Because of that, I almost made this Note about Vikings again, but I think I have railed about them enough? I think?

This subject’s been coming for a while.

Lawyers in Fiction

I am out of town this weekend, so I hope this goes up in time. I started writing this earlier in the week than usual, taking notes on one of the train ticket printouts from last year’s big vacation.

It’s the Ides of March! Watch your back, and avoid toga parties.

So I’m trying out Andor while the first season is on Hulu. People have been saying it’s good. Not sure what the next book will be at this point.

Stories Must End

My nose is runny, which is quite annoying; otherwise, I’m mostly okay. I’m trying out letters for Lent, and also making some kind of travel plans? It’s all a bit messy right now.

I’m finishing up the Bloodsworn Trilogy, which is good but also terrible because they just killed off the coolest character. After that might be a Scott Hahn book? Or maybe a Witcher comic.

Daylight savings this weekend! And now for the Saturday Note originally planned for last weekend.

On Operational Information

My computer took two days to update…

I finished Dragon Pilot on Netflix; it inspired this Note. After that, I think I’ll get to watching the seasons of Brooklyn 99 that Netflix just put up. Book-wise… not sure! Probably an art book.

I had a completely different topic in mind! I wrote some notes! But this one pulled on my brain and I realized I had more original thoughts on this one.

Black History Month Character Ideas

It is a bit cold here, February is about to end, but today is scheduled to be a good day. I just need to make sure I stay warm.

I am still working through Dragon Pilot on Netflix, as well as Burn Notice on Hulu. Reading-wise, I have begun to realize that I should really get into the Cosmere novels by Sanderson.

On Crafting in Video Games

Happy Day After Valentine’s Day! Don’t give me cake. I’m tired of it.

I realized Friday that my argument on the last Note was that the Death Star is equivalent to civilian bombing. Maybe the nuclear bomb is a better analogy? I need to think more about this.

Currently, I am watching Dragon Pilot on Netflix, an anime about dragons who are also airplanes. I re-read Artemis Fowl (the signed copy!), which was great fun. Next novel will probably be Sanderson’s Lost Metal. I’ll try to watch the Netflix animated Witcher movie this weekend, too.

Bit of life advice: with everything going on, don’t let politics consume your life. It’s important to keep up with current events, but you can’t forget to breathe once in a while.

The Death Star Was a Terrible Plan (and that’s kind of okay)

Two days ago was Waitangi Day! There is leftover cake at the house that I am slowly working through.

This past week I watched the miniseries The 10th Kingdom on FreeVee. Think of it as something like early 2000’s Once Upon a Time? That’s the best I can do to briefly describe it, I think.

I’m behind on book reviews, oh, dear…

This Note idea came to me a couple of times in the past couple of weeks. One time I thought about it while about to go to sleep, and I said, “Nah, I’ll remember it in the morning.” Deciding that I have definitely forgotten ideas over night before, I decided to scribble on a sticky note in the dark and deal with it later. I also considered saving it for May 4th, but by then I strongly suspect I shall forget the idea.

So here we are.

Avatar Cycle Problems

Waitangi Day approaches!

Throat is feeling much better, though still not at 100%. I have a couple of reviews on the way, though my computer has been acting up more than usual lately, so who knows! We will see.

Not sure what I’m watching now; I finished A Man on the Inside. I tried out an episode of Loudermilk, but I don’t think it’s for me. So for now, I guess it’s re-watching season three of Elementary.

On Fictional Society Decline

I have a sore throat. It sucks, but if that’s the extent of my unwellness, then it’s not so bad. And! I had a couple of days off of work because of the winter weather! And!!! I discovered a surprise otter!!!

I am presently reading the fourth Codex Alera book, and watching A Man on the Inside.

Randomly thinking of the Goths in The Expanse….

On Neil Gaiman, Again

Weird mood this week, I’ve flipped and flopped. By the end of the workday on Friday, I landed on, “Wow, I’m a massive screwup and a waste of space.” Don’t worry, I should be out of it by Sunday. Probably.

I finished reading Jingo, and am currently working on The Hunger of the Gods by John Gwynne. Also watching Black Doves on Netflix, which is a bit different for me, but it’s not bad.

Randomly (well, not really, it was playing on the TV in a place I went to), I was reasonably annoyed about how Curious George, the Curious Little Monkey, isn’t actually a monkey. Anyhow.

Rick Riordan Hot Take

They let me out of work early on Friday due to winter weather!

I am presently reading The Quiet Damage, which is about QAnon–or rather, the damage it does to families when people go down that path and become obsessed with its conspiracy theories. It’s interesting, and weirdly made me… not as depressed this week? Like, yeah, I feel a bit aimless in life, but at least I don’t find myself so lost that I think we have to depend on Donald Trump to save the world.

Anyhow! That has nothing to do with today’s Saturday Note. I had this idea a few weeks back, after watching a review and going down a (non-conspiracy) rabbit hole on Rick Riordan’s last book (Wrath of the Triple Goddess).

Stakes in Fiction

Uh, so, for a lot of this week I’ve been in something like a Pit of Despair. The whole, ‘it’s another year, I’ve done nothing with my life, I have nothing to look forward to,’ thing. Y’know. All that. 

Anyway, I just finished Star Wars: Dark Rendezvous, which was alarmingly good? Not sure what’s next. Still watching Jentry Chau, and the 10th episode is basically a season finale, but there are three more episodes? Getting confused on the last few episodes of Interior Chinatown, too. 

I am trying to finish up Dragon Age: Inquisition, before I get to trying out God of War.