Island Passage

I've often thought that being famous would be unpleasant, and so have never been much interested in magazines about celebrity. James Lileks briefly sums up much of my thinking: If I'm in the checkout line and I see two mags, one of which says, BIRD FLU WILL KILL US ALL, the other of which says CAMERON DIAZ'S ACNE HEARTBREAK, well, I'll go for the former. Because Diaz's skin condition is something I can get around to later after we've buried the dead. And if it's cleared up by the time the pandemic subsides? Happy ending for everyone. Of course my chances for fame peaked in the 1980's when I appeared on a local Portland, Oregon television game show. Won four nights running, choked on the fifth night.

Glenn Reynolds posts this email from a reader who should know: As a medical researcher, I want to make a gentle but sincere plea to the blogosphere to calm down this flu hysteria just a bit. The main way that flu kills is by predisposing its victims to "superinfection" by bacterial illnesses - in 1918, we had no antibiotics for these superimposed infections, but now we have plenty. Such superinfections, and the transmittal of flu itself, were aided tremendously by the crowded conditions and poor sanitation of the early 20th century - these are currently vastly improved as well. Flu hits the elderly the hardest, but the "elderly" today are healthier, stronger, and better nourished than ever before. Our medical infrastructure is vastly better off, ranging from simple things like oxygen and sterile i.v. fluids, not readily available in 1918, to complex technologies such as respirators and dialysis. Should we be concerned? Sure, better safe than sorry, and concerns a...

I saw Serenity opening weekend and I loved it. Mrs. Islander (who has been driven crazy by my incessant playing of the DVDs) also loved it. We both stayed through the credits and enjoyed the guitar rendition of the TV theme at the end. However. While I enjoyed the movie, I have come to the conclusion ( shared by David Edelstein over at Slate magazine) that the television show is better. Why? Joss Whedon does two things better than almost anyone writing screenplays today: he builds great ensembles through writing superior dialog that builds character relationships; and he tells stories about big subjects with a light and deft hand. The first of these talents blooms best in an extended, multi-episode format such as a television show. For example, the conflict between the Simon and Jayne is so well developed that, by the episode "Jaynetown," Simon's line "No, this is what it feels like to go mad!" carries a payoff far outweighing the setup of the previous 15 minut...

I am compiling a style guide for my shiny new publications department (as a Wiki!). Part of that style guide is a list of "Best Practices," which for me resolves to a "must-do," "don't-do" list. The faithful reader is encouraged to submit additions. == 10 Things You Must / Must Not Do == Always ask yourself, “How will this read to outsiders.” Never assume your document will be read only by people for whom it was intended. Always use the styles, templates, and font families specified by Publications and Marketing that provide a consistent “corporate voice.” Never invent a new style for a single document. Refer to the Style Guide. The Style Guide is your friend. It saves you from having to make a dozen nit-picky decisions every day. Never attempt humor in corporate documents. When humor misfires, it makes everyone look a chump. (“Dying is easy, comedy is hard.” -the last words of Sir Donald Wolfit, British actor and director) Prefer...

On December 9th, 2005 a movie is being released which I am anticipating more than I anticipated Serenity . (And the faithful reader will know that I was crazy waiting for Serenity .) That film is The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe . If you are unaware of what The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is about, meet Mr. Google . The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is being produced by Walden Media . Walden Media has been creating a slate of family-friendly movies, including: Because of Winn-Dixie , Charlotte's Web , Around the World in 80 Days , and many more. Of course, times being what they are, no good act goes unpunished. Don't you know that it's all a plot by those intolerant Republicans? (h/t Taleena ) The movie is being co-produced by Disney and Walden Media, which is owned by Philip Anschutz, a Colorado billionaire. Anschutz, his family, his foundation and his company have donated nearly $100,000 to Republican candidates and c...

...are in Seattle. That's what Perry Como sang for the TV series Here Comes The Brides . This is the kind of day that keeps people sustained through the grey, damp winter and spring. It's a cloudless day, mid-to-upper 60's, humitity is 57% with a light breeze from WSW. Pomona, now is mid-80's, but with humity at 22% it seems cooler (that's what I told the chicken in my oven). Austin is 80 with thunder and humidity at 80%. Yow! And so I'm out to suck up as much of this day as I can.