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Celebrate Dino’s Birthday

To celebrate entertainment legend Dean Martin, who was born 104 years ago on June 7, streamer The Film Detective will run four Dino classics starting at 6:07 pm ET today.

First up is At War With the Army (1950), one of the comedies Martin made with then-partner Jerry Lewis.

Then, at 7:39 pm, Martin guests on The Frank Sinatra Timex Show (ABC, 1959). He sings solo and with Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Mitzi Gaynor and Jimmy Durante.

At 8:40 pm, it’s Dean’s Place (NBC, 1975), a variety special with a bevy of guests, including Ronald and Nancy Reagan, Milton Berle, Robert Mitchum, Police Woman’s Angie Dickinson, The Jeffersons’ Sherman Hemsley and The Mary Tyler Moore Show’s Georgia Engel.

Finally, at 9:34 pm, from 1976, Dino looks back 50 years in another NBC special, Dean Martin’s Red Hot Scandals of 1926. The cast includes Engel again, Dom DeLuise, Barney Miller’s Abe Vigoda, and Jonathan Winters as Al Capone.

The Film Detective’s 24/7 channel is available free on SlingStirr, DistroTV and Plex.

You can also stream At War With the Army and The Frank Sinatra Timex Show for free on demand by clicking on the links in this sentence.

The other two shows are also available from The Film Detective on demand, but only if you subscribe to its ad-free version of the service for $3.99/month or $34.99/year.

You can, however, stream Dean’s Place and Dean Martin’s Red Hot Scandals of 1926 for free on Tubi by clicking on the links in this sentence and entering your date of birth.

In addition to the web, The Film Detective is available via apps for iOSRoku, Fire TV and Apple TV.

(Top image source: The Film Detective)

About The Savvy One

The Savvy One is an elusive bird. Wise and wary of the new television omniverse. Wide-eyed and binge watching his way through life. He is ever perched and ready to bring the knowledge of TV Discovery to the world.

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Good Morning: Steph Curry and A.I. Are Getting Busy

Looks like Andre Iguodala is setting in to Golden State just fine, as he and Steph Curry, who racked up a triple-double, handed Philly their first loss of the season.

Oregon RB De'Anthony Thomas says the Ducks should be able to put up "at least 40" on Stanford this weekend. Ducks QB Marcus Mariota extended his Heisman lead, according to the USA Today Poll, despite taking a week off, while Jameis Winston tore up Miami.

Aaron Rodgers was knocked out of Green Bay's 27-20 MNF loss to the Chicago Bears following this hit from Shea McLellin. Rodgers did not return.

The Yankees and Red Sox both made qualifying offers to their major free agents, including Mike Napoli, Jacoby Ellsbury, Robinson Cano and Curtis Granderson.

The NYT reports A-Rod tested positive for stimulants in 2006 in their write-up describing the kangaroo court nature of the A-Rod trials.

Mariano Rivera and Francisco Liriano were named Comeback Players of the Year in their respective leagues.

The Seattle Mariners narrowed their coaching search to four. Perhaps one of them can help Felix Hernandez find a new house, after his burned down yesterday.

Reports state Texans head coach Gary Kubiak suffered a mini-stroke during SNF.

A jury in Miami found 22-year-old Eric Rivera guilty of murdering former Redskins safety Sean Taylor. He faces life in prison.

Michael Carter-Williams became the first player since Shaq to win Conference Player of the Week in the first week of his career.

Cavs center Andrew Bynum says he isn't sure whether his former explosiveness will return.

Victor Oladipo expressed interest in competing in the 2014 NBA Dunk Contest.

Chris Bosh and his wife welcomed a baby girl into the world yesterday.

CP3 did his thing in Houston, as the Clippers ran the Rockets out of the Staples Center, 137-118.

In addition to one of the greatest basketball players of all time, Bill Russell also appears to give one hell of a hug.

Good effort here from Kentucky freshman James Young, who went after a loose ball and saved it from going out of bounds. Unfortunately, his heave to keep the ball in went straight into his own basket.

Kanye West postponed two more concerts on his Yeezus tour due to missing equipment.

Here's how to get HBO without cable.

DMX was arrested again in South Carolina.

Oprah made $600,000 at her yard sale. All proceeds went to her school.

Child care now costs more than college in the United States.

The Senate passed legislation making it illegal to discriminate based on sexual orientation or preference in the workplace, a bill unlikely to pass the House of Representatives after Speaker John Boehner spoke out against it.

A 20-year-old male ran up in a mall in New Jersey and started shooting a rifle. He didn't injure anyone else, but did turn the gun on himself and took his life. Eric Holder says there must be new standards for dealing with active shooters, which have tripled in the last few years as the number of people dying in such incidents has quadrupled.

The though U.S. public is largely against the N.S.A.'s strategies, politicians can't agree on what measures to take to limit their scope of spying, so nothing will change. They clearly don't know it's Drizzy season #NWTS.

Over 50 percent of the United States made less than $28,000 in 2012, the lowest rate since 1998. Meanwhile, corporate profits have doubled, reaching record highs.

Conservatives in Colorado want to secede from the United States.

Troy Ave dropped an album, New York City, with a money-back guarantee. Here's a sample. You buying?

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Daphne Caruana Galizia’s family reacts to arrests

The full statement issued by the family of slain journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia following the arrest of 10 men announced during a press conference by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat yesterday:

“The manner in which [yesterday’s] arrests were communicated to Daphne Caruana Galizia’s family indicates serious institutional deficiencies which are cause for general public concern.

The information about the arrests was communicated by the Prime Minister, and not by the Malta Police, who appear to prioritise informing the Prime Minister of developments to the exclusion of the surviving members of the assassination victim’s family.

In addition, the Prime Minister appears to view the investigation into Daphne Caruana Galizia’s assassination as a marketing exercise for his government and not as a contract killing, which has left surviving family members wondering what happened and how justice can truly be served.

The family heard about [yesterday’s] arrests at the same time as media reported on the Prime Minister’s press conference [yesterday] morning. This means that the Malta Police informed the Prime Minister of the arrests but did not inform Daphne Caruana Galizia’s family about a critical development in the investigation.

It also means that the media learned of the arrests before the family did. The Prime Minister said that the family ‘has faith’ in the inquiring magistrate, on whom he counts to keep family members informed. The family remind the Prime Minister that it is not the magistrate’s role to act as a liaison officer for the Police Force, over which he has no oversight.

The Police are running a separate investigation to the magisterial inquiry and have a separate duty to keep family members informed.

A further two arrests were made this morning and the family only heard of them because the Prime Minister Tweeted about them. Again, the Prime Minister was informed before the family was informed, and the Prime Minister’s prioritising the media over the assassination victim’s family indicates that his public image is his primary concern.

It is beneath the dignity of public office that critical information about an assassination investigation by the police should be released by the Prime Minister, rather than by the police, and on social media, rather than in a formal setting.

The Prime Minister misled the press this morning with regard to who signed the arrest warrants and failed to resist making a partisan reference even in a moment of such profound tension for the country and for Daphne Caruana Galizia’s family.

The Prime Minister said that the arrest warrants were signed by the inquiring magistrate. Arrest warrants are routinely signed by the duty magistrate. The inquiring magistrate, Anthony Vella, is not the duty magistrate today.

Daphne Caruana Galizia’s family could have been informed of today’s arrests by a family liaison officer of the Malta Police force — if one had been appointed. It is what might be expected in any homicide case, particularly one which is high profile and which has wide-reaching implications.

The family had already written to the Police Commissioner about the lack of formal communication and about the constant stream of leaks which prejudice the integrity of the investigation. The Police Commissioner has not responded in writing to any of the family’s letters to him.

Within an hour of the arrests, the mugshots, names, and addresses of seven of the suspects were leaked by the Malta Police. If police officers who have access to the case files are leaking this information so wantonly, it is important to ask whether they are not also leaking information to other suspects, some of whom could be in or close to government.

The family is concerned that a number of people who could be implicated continue to receive political cover for crimes they are widely reported to have committed. None of the developments in the investigation or its handling by the Malta Police have served to reassure the family that real justice is within reach.

The blurring of boundaries with the executive – and this in a case which has political implications – is disturbing. When the handling of an investigation is not sound, it is difficult to have faith in its outcome.

Daphne Caruana Galizia’s family will continue to fight for an independent and impartial investigation that is theirs by right and will fight to hold to account any institutions or officials who fail to uphold their duties, prejudicing the investigation either by incompetence or misfeasance.”

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Moules Marinière à la Crème, Season 2 Premiere

Sep 07, 2019

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Cooking in the kitchen is when I take a breath from the day.

Especially when I am cooking for one person (that would be me! ;)), this routine of imagining in my mind what I am craving, letting my appetite anticipate the deliciousness that will soon be savored, and finding balance and nutrition in what I bring together to make a meal that is satiating shuts out everything else and allows me to breathe deeply and with ease no matter what has gone on during the rest of the day or what I have to do on the other side of the meal.

And the good news is, the meals need not be complicated or time consuming to encompass all of the above.

With each trip I make to France, each dining opportunity I have in the country that has taught me to eat with the seasons, moving with them instead of ignoring them, as well as dining experiences most recently in San Francisco, as well as Portland and the town I call home, Bend, Oregon. The aha discovery is as refreshing as the fresh, full of flavor combinations and food selections that are presented.

For the second season of The Simply Luxurious Kitchen, I am excited to bring to you recipes inspired by my trip to Paris and Louviers, Normandy, this summer, as well as a most memorable dinner in Berkeley at Alice Waters’ Chez Panisse, and other outings around San Francisco. Also, viewers have asked that I share with them meals I enjoy during my everyday work week. And while each of the eight episodes share just this, I also have a couple of episodes dedicated solely to meals I enjoy quite regularly at the end of a busy day that are simple and full of wonderful flavor.

For the premiere of the second season, the first episode takes us to Louviers as well as to the Oregon Coast. Today’s recipe Moules Marinière, and more specifically Moules Marinière à la Crème, holds a special place in my dining memories as it happens to have been enjoyed and talked about on some very special occasions. All of which I will share during the episode.

Also, it is my hope that the audio quality is clear and easy to hear and understand as that was the one constructive feedback that viewers suggested for this new season. While I am still learning about this field of videography, I think you will be pleased with the upgrade as you will hear not only my voice more clearly, but the lovely symphony that is unique to tinkering in the kitchen.

And now, without further ado, the second season of The Simply Luxurious Kitchen! Stop by each Saturday for the next eight weeks to enjoy a new episode.

Links from the Episode:

  • Attending Susan Herrmann Loomis’ Cooking Class in Louviers, Normandy, France (July 2019)
    • I want to send a tremendous thank you to my fellow classmate in Susan’s class, Suzie, for recording my segment with Susan in her kitchen.
  • The recipe was inspired by my dining experience at Huguette Bistro de la Mar in the 6th arrondisement in Paris. Learn more about the restaurant here and discover eight other places I recommend visiting in Paris.
  • A simple vinaigrette: 3 tablespoons top quality extra virgin olive oil (Lucini’s is the brand I keep on hand for special occasions and dressings. You can usually find it in your local grocery store for less than what you will find it online.), 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar, 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard, a smidge of freshly ground pepper.
  • Mango Wood Serving Bowl, from Food52
  • Le Creuset Dutch Oven (many sizes and colors)
  • Copper cocotte with lid – I picked this one up in Normandy at a brocante. Similar here.

~Cook & Share! I would love to share your Simply Luxurious Kitchen inspired experiences from your kitchen! Tag me on Instagram with @thesimplyluxuriouslife #tslkitchen and your post could appear on my Instagram feed. Many readers have already shared their meals inspired by recipes from TSLKitchen. Check out TSLL’s IG Story Highlights – titled, Viewers’ Recipes.

Moules Marinière à la Crème

Simply Luxurious
Prep Time 5 mins
Cook Time 15 mins
Total Time 20 mins
Servings 2 people

  • 1 1/2 - 2 lb moules (mussels) debeard if necessary, and make sure all the mussels are closed (tap and wait up to 30 minutes to give them a chance to shut on their own if opened). Most mussels are cleaned well at the fish market/counter, but if not, run water over them, soaking for 5-10 minutes to remove any sand.
  • 1/2 onion diced
  • 1 shallot finely diced
  • 1 tablespoon Herbs de Provence
  • 1/2 cup white wine a dry white wine you enjoy drinking
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • coarse sea salt to season throughout
  • 2 tablespoons flat leaf Italian parsley finely chopped for sprinkling on top of the mussels after steaming
  • 1-2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 1-2 cloves garlic chopped

  • Purchase mussels and plan on using them the same day or at the latest, the next. Upon bringing them home from the market, remove any packages, and place into a bowl. Place a damp towel on top of them loosely, but directly, and leave in the refrigerator until you are ready to cook them.
  • Chop the onion, shallot and garlic. Place a large skillet or Dutch oven on the stove top at medium heat (make sure it has a lid that fits it well). Place the chopped onion, shallot and garlic into the skillet/Dutch oven and cook until tender, but not translucent.
  • While the aromatics are cooking, prepare the moules (mussels). See directions in the ingredient list. Before adding the moules, add both the heavy cream and wine. Let the sauce reduce down for about five minutes at medium, to medium-high heat. Then add the moules, cover the skillet, and steam for about 5-7 minutes until they open. If after 10 minutes any moules do not open, discard them.
  • Remove the moules from the Dutch oven/skillet, and place in a serving bowl. Pour the sauce over the moules and sprinkle with parsley.
  • Serve with fresh bread, a glass of your favorite wine, perhaps the white wine you used to cook the moules with, and enjoy.

10 thoughts on “Moules Marinière à la Crème, Season 2 Premiere

  1. Thank you Shannon, watching your excellent vodcast takes me back to enjoying Moules et Frites on the seafront at a lovely restaurant in the Vendee whilst holidaying with ‘my girls’, my daughter, French daughter in law and granddaughter. Looking forward to Saturdays even more! With best wishes, Sue (PS love your Breton top).

  2. Shannon, this episode was great! The mussels looked so delicious. You have so many talents and I love how you explore them all. I remember when I watched your premiere episode. My little granddaughter & I were watching it together and Norman walked it. My granddaughter said, “She has a dog!” We both smiled. I like how Norman appeared again. Keep inspiring us!

    1. So delighted to see your granddaughter was tickled by Norman. The boys really just do their thing while I tape, and when they show up in the frame, I cannot help but smile. Thank you for watching!

  3. Excellent vodcast today! We love mussels in our house and this recipe seems very doable.
    Thanks for sharing your delicious meal.

  4. Enjoyed you highly anticipated 1st episode of The Simpy Luxurious Kitchen, Shannon. The recipe looks pretty simply and I’m looking forward to making it. (Love you Breton top also!).
    Thanks so much

  5. Wow oh wow, love the recipe and the stories and LOVE you bringing it all to the table, so Jacques Pepin!! So very complete with the suggestion of entree or appetizer, wine, cheese—my dear, c’est incroyable! (And negligible mention, but perfect wardrobe choice…) 🙂

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Tuesday, April 2, 2019

The Davao Death Squad

The Davao odd workforcet squadDavao City would be a veracious example of an ideal city, a city that has been under the hands Mayor Duterte for about 10 yrs. Under his name, the Davao City has ameliorated in terms of offence rates, topic and some some other aspects. While he was the mayor of the city, it was tell that he was baffling in the devastation squad that was responsible for(p) for killings that was happening then.The Davao Death squad is an expeditious vigilante group in Davao City, Philippines. Reports gull shown that they experience been responsible for the summary killings that were happening in Davao City for the past few years. Reports said that they were responsible for executing drug traffickers and all shepherds crook actions in Davao City. Rodrigo Duterte universe the mayor at that time was a prime suspect of the finale squad. He was said to be liable of the killings of the squad.Drug dealers, pitifuls with intense crime, and other criminal tradin g were slayd. Many of the victims purportedly had criminal records, giving cram to suspicions that the so called Davao Death Squad were tin can their closes. If the Davao Death Squad would continue, crime rate would be lower, desolate lives would be protected, and the treasure of life would be strengthened.CounterclaimsPromotes finis penaltyIn position, termination penalty is a good way to find out the crime rates and unratified deed. If there is ending penalty, there would be no demise squad. Death squad aims to assassinate dirty citizens who commit crime in the city. If there is final stage penalty, the termination squad would have no use because the death squad is promoting death penalty. So both are on the identical side and are on the same page. Life is indeed precious, and I believe the death penalty helps to affirm that fact which makes the death squad in the same line with death penalty.Decline of TourismEver since the Davao Death Squad has been investigat ed, the tourism of Davao City was not affected. The Death Squad is not something that all(prenominal) tourist should know about Davao City. Davao City is well known for its intermission and order. It is known to be in good hands of Mayor Duterte. If population would come visit Davao, theres nothing to worry about being kill by the Death Squad unless if that person is bringing ill-gotten transaction in the city. Actually, it was stated that the tourism of Davao City has increased since 1998 to 2004. If the tourism of Davao would decrease, the death squad has nothing to do with it. The fact that the death squad promotes two-eyed violet and order, it attracts tourist knowing that the city is safe from crime and illegal deals. takeControls the crime and illegal tradingThe Davao Death Squad has been active incessantly since the crime rate in Davao City was high. When the death squad became active in the community, criminal activities were less. Knowing that it terminates those who are winding in illegal transactions, it controls the crime and illegal transactions that are happening in Davao City. The death squad assassinates those who are poisoning the city with heavy crime and illegal activitiesWith this kind of scheme, it alarms every citizen of Davao City to be aware of this vigilante group. cultism im fortune help control crime and the illegal transactions of the city. Criminals would sightly continue to do their thing when sanction is very low homogeneous going to jail and still be released soon. The probability of the people to discover and to avoid illegal transactions would be high, knowing that they leave alone be a tar play of assassination if they would ever proceed with illegal activities. If the death squad will be continued, it would intimidate the criminals and illegal sectors that are within the city thus it controls the crime.ClaimStrengthens the valuate of life through life-threatening refereeIt strengthens people in the notion t hat Davao is a city where evaluator is being interpreted dearly, however to an excessive point, some may argue. compassionate rights dont necessarily stand for serenity. The death squad only takes down the neighborly deviants. As stated in the reports, the killings of the death squad where all criminal suspects that were involved in a major issue. The individual criminals were just taken to jail, but once an individual is making a lot of hollow in the union as a whole, knowing that theyll just pick out out of jail and do evil things all over again, will be assassinated.Justice is what every city aims to have but justice can never be taken seriously with no serious punishments that would abolish the crimes and illegal entries. Mayor Duterte corpse to be a efficacious figure of Davao city. He aims to have peace and order in the city. Sources have stated that other high officials have agreed that Duterte has improved the peace and order of the city in his hands. Nobody knows if he is involved in the death squad but what we know is the death squad has helped Duterte improve the peace of the city. Mayor Duterte explained his perspective in an interview that if you are doing an illegal activity in the city, if you are a criminal or part of a syndicate that preys on the irreproachable people of the city, for as retentive as he is the mayor, you are a legitimate target of assassination. Whoever is behind all this, or if it may really be Mayor Duterete, he is justifiable in his conquest for peace.It strengthens the value of life because it has a higher regard for the value of a persons life. Nothing would intimidate the criminals, no other than the death squad. It is similar to how the penalty goes if a person commits a crime. It is by stating the highest penalty for committing a major crime like, taking away of military man life, that we urinate the highest value of human life.ClaimProtects innocent livesThere was a woman who works at a gym as a trainer. One early morning, she was walking her way to work when she walked by a small street at the corner, she passed by a small terminal where there were groups of men who were drunk. The woman was abused with the drunken men. She was then stabbed legion(predicate) times until the woman lost her life. The next week, the drunken men were inform to be assassinated by the death squad.If the drunken men were not put to death by the death squad, it is not an assurance that those men would not kill an innocent life again. Once someone is involved in a serious crime, theres always a time when they will do it again. Innocent lives are at risk if these criminals are outback(a) claiming to be innocent. If guilty lives are being protected, we are bringing innocent lives in the line. If these criminals are put to jail, knowing that they did a serious criminal once, great chance is that theyll do it again after being solidifying out of jail. If these criminals are put to death, there is this ass urance that they wont do the same mistake again.First of all, there would be no death squad if crime was taken seriously in the society. Sad to come upon that the justice dodging of a society fails to function which results to the death squad. It could be possible that the public is no longer satisfied with the security system of the city. One of the best ways to guarantee the protection that a society would want is to give surety that convicted murders do not slaughter again.VI. coatingAlthough some may argue that the Davao Death Squad is immoral, they should face the fact that it promotes serious justice and peace in the city. The death squad remains to be a powerful tool in controlling crime, modify the value of life, and protecting innocent lives. The death squad has been proven to control the crime rates in the city. It shows that the city does not promote illegal transaction within the borders of the society. There is a higher probability that criminals would get intimidat ed of the death squad that would avoid them from doing crime. The death squad strengthens the value of life through serious justice. It gives a higher regard for the value of a persons life. By means of stating the highest penalty for committing a serious crime, we establish the highest value of human life. The death squad shuts down criminals to protect innocent lives from harm. It gives that assurance that these criminals will not kill again. The Davao Death squad would have a big impact in promoting peace and order of Davao City.

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Parenting Help

Five Nights a Week

Rob Chagdes

I sometimes start to think success in parenting is about doing something big. Maybe a huge vacation to a memorable destination, an expensive gift or even pulling off a surprise for my kids that they’ll never forget.

In light of that thinking, it’s funny how the simplest things can produce the best results.

Heading into March of this year, we were having dinner together maybe twice a week. We allowed the hectic schedules to take over and dinner turned into everyone eating what they want whenever they had time.

Then the pandemic hit. As quarantine became our way of life, my wife and I saw an opportunity to hit the reset button in our family. Our schedules were wiped clean, so we made a choice to eat dinner together at least five times a week.

The initial response was predictable.

“I don’t want chicken, so I’ll make a hot pocket!”

Of course mom responded with, “No, we are eating together!”

“This is dumb, we never do this!”

Nevertheless we persisted! We ended up picking our battles, showing grace, letting them choose some meals, and eventually each person in our family of five would be assigned a night where they had to prepare dinner (an idea we got from Mom would do the shopping (something about how I spend a lot more when I go…) and we would make the dinner of our choosing.

Many nights dinner lasted less than fifteen minutes, and the conversation was nothing noteworthy.

“I actually got dressed today.”

“I haven’t showered in three days.”

“I was on FaceTime for three hours with my friends!”

There were moments where we realized this was good, but as a whole it was just a nice routine for our family. As summer came, people started to normalize gathering and our schedules started to slowly become filled with activities.

We made the decision that no matter what, we’d keep doing dinner together at least five nights a week.

And then at the end of one random seemingly-normal day. . .we had the closest thing to a perfect night that I can remember.

We sat outside talking as Mom finished grilling the hamburgers she chose for her meal. Everyone seemed fairly relaxed, and nobody was in a hurry to leave.

The meal started with the normal sharing about our days.

“I can’t believe they canceled camp!”

“I went on a bike ride with a couple of my friends today.”

“These burgers are fantastic!”

I don’t recall the exact moment things shifted, but suddenly we were having a conversation that I didn’t see coming. My sixteen year old declared,

“It’s not that I think dating is bad, I just wonder if it’s worth the time as a teenager.”

I remember thinking “don’t mess this up!”

My oldest daughter chimed in, “It’s not. But it’s also interesting how your friendships change so much during junior high and high school.”

Our youngest teenage daughter added, “that’s why I’m just trying to make good memories and try to grow in my faith.”

We ended up talking about what it means to make your teenage years count, and how to walk with Jesus through it all. It lasted about thirty magical minutes.

Somehow on a random Tuesday night in June, we had a night that I will remember for a long time. My girls might not think much about it, but for their parents this was the payoff.

I remember hearing Jonathan McKee say something in one of his books about how the key to quality time is quantity time. You just never know when it’s gonna happen.

Through the quickly consumed meals, the snarky sister comments, the moody parents and more – these seemingly insignificant nights led to a night that made it all worthwhile.

Before we know it, our girls will be moved out and it will just be my wife and I, so until then we are going to keep having quantity time hoping for more quality time moments. Whether we are too busy, annoyed with our children or just not feeling it, we are going to keep having dinner together – no matter what.

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Rob Chagdes

Rob Chagdes is one of the pastors at Prairie Lakes Church in northern Iowa. In the years since he met Jesus as a sixteen year old, Rob has spent his life working to raise up the next generation to love God and invite others into His unending story. He spends most of his free time with his wife Leslie, their three amazing daughters, and their energetic dog Jedi. You can reach Rob at

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Parenting Help

Dynamic ImageIt’s a video game that many have described as Minecraftmeets Left 4 Dead (which covers a pretty broad spectrum… in movies it would be like saying Incrediblesmeets Deadpool).

Every kid is talking about it, and anyone with an Xbox, PlayStation, computer or an iPhone can jump in on a match.

The game is Fortnite, and it’s all anyone is talking about.

It’s interesting how different elements in our culture provoke questions from parents at a given time. Like when Snapchat released their new SnapMaps last fall, I began hearing questions from parents, “Is it safe for my kids’ friends to all know where she is at any given moment?”

Right now the question I am hearing at every one of my parent workshops is, “I can’t pry my son’s eyes from the video game Fortnite! He even sneaks to play it! What do I do?” And then other parents ask, “Is this a healthy game for my kids to be playing in the first place?”

We’re now seeing articles surface from very concerned parents freaking out about the game like it’s Grand Theft Auto (it’s not). But are there some valid concerns with this game?

I turned to my game expert Samuel who reviews video games for us on and asked him his two cents about the game’s violence, it’s addictive nature, and whether it’s connective abilities pose any dangers. Here’s my conversation with him:

JONATHAN: Samuel we love your video game reviews. You bring such a fine balance between appreciating games, playing games with your kids, but also watching out for some of the negative influences out there. Tell us a little about this insanely popular game Fortnite.

SAMUEL: Glad to! Fortnite is a cooperative survival game that released in July 2017. The original game is about a mysterious worldwide storm that suddenly engulfed the earth, made 98% of the population disappear, and brought out zombie-like creatures to attack those who remained. Players team up with their friends to survive attacking hordes of the creatures, not only with weapons, but also by building structures with the game’s dynamic building system. Hence the comparison to Minecraft and Left 4 Dead; those games have central elements of building and 4-player cooperation, respectively.

But the reason everyone is talking about Fortnight is because of another version of the game called Fortnite Battle Royale, where players battle against each other to the death.

JONATHAN: So like Hunger Games?

SAMUEL: Yes, but no Jennifer Lawrence.

JONATHAN: So what’s this obsession with the “Battle Royale” genre… we’re seeing a lot of games doing this. If this was the 80’s it would be like if Pac Man came out with a Pac Attack where you got to battle all your friends trying to eat each other. (Did I just come up with a good idea?)

SAMUEL: For sure, patent that!

The 30 second answer to that question is, yes, gamers really love the “Battle Royale” fight-to-the-death genre. It’s pretty new, with its origins in a Minecraft mod from 2012, but it really gained popularity with a game called PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, colloquially shortened to “PUBG.” It released as an early-access PC game from early 2017, meaning it was unfinished, but released on computers for people to play while it was still in development. Most multiplayer action games pit teams of people against each other, and the first to achieve a goal (like holding a certain location or defeating enough members of the other team) would win. But Battle Royale games drop players into a large, open area with little to no items, resources, or weapons, and leave them to their own devices to gather the resources they need to be the last surviving player. After the popularity of PUBG exploded, Epic Games realized that Fortnite already had the base elements of a Battle Royale game in place, and released a free new version of Fortnite called Fortnite Battle Royale to compete. In Fortnite, 100 players start the game, and only one will win. It has since grown to become the most popular Battle Royale game on the market today.

JONATHAN: Nice. And that actually took 32 seconds.

SAMUEL: Aw man, I should have talked faster.

JONATHAN: So parents seem to be worried about two things: the violence, and how addictive the game is. Tell us about the violence.

SAMUEL: The violence is par for the course for action games, but it’s not graphic. Fortnite is a competition, not a war, more akin to some kind of extreme survival paintball than Grand Theft Auto. The visual style is cartoony and vibrant, and there’s no blood or gore.
JONATHAN: So you don’t rip out the guy’s spine when you beat him?

SAMUEL: Not even close; Mortal Kombat this is not. Fortnite isn’t interested in framing these battles as a horrifying real-life event the way books like The Hunger Games or Battle Royale do; Fortnite is a friendly competition, through and through. There’s a discussion to be had about whether it’s appropriate for such competitions to take place with subject matter like death and killing, but considering how long kids have been playing cops and robbers, soldier and other sports like paintball (not to mention the warlike simulations of even more innocent games like Chess), I don’t think Fortnite adds anything damaging to the violence-themed play children have enjoyed for centuries.

JONATHAN: So is this game more addictive than others? Why do we have so many parents complaining that this particular game is pulling their kids in like a tractor beam?

SAMUEL: Video game addiction is a difficult subject to talk about, because while it is absolutely real, it’s also far more often misdiagnosed than not. The fact is that video games have been a favorite scapegoat of many demographics and causes since their inception, and when people disapprove of something to begin with, it’s easy to label any amount that they think is “too much” as an “addiction.” It’s important to distinguish between simply spending a lot of time and thought on something, even too much, and actually having a compulsive addiction that negatively impacts one’s ability to perform necessary daily functions. Especially when we’re speaking about a simple activity like video games rather than a substance like drugs or alcohol that actually affects the body directly.

As for Fortnite, it definitely has a few elements of games that easily lend themselves to addiction. The chances of being the last player alive out of 100 are minimal, and this difficult but possible goal is rather tantalizing; victory feels constantly attainable as you play, but actually winning is very rare and requires a good deal of skill. I’ve been playing the game on occasion for the last month or so, sometimes alone and sometimes in the doubles mode with my wife, and I’ve yet to win a single game. This feeling of having a goal, knowing you can accomplish it, but rarely actually managing to, is absolutely something that drives players to keep on trying.

JONATHAN: Has your wife ever beat you?

SAMUEL: Well we’ve been playing as a team, so no. But I’m proud to say I married someone who can keep up with me on the virtual battlefield!

See, in video game development there are a number of common game mechanics that have been called out for their intentionally addictive nature. Some forms of character progression in MMORPGs like World of Warcraft, the controversy over gambling with microtransactions and loot boxes; some games are intentionally designed to suck players in and keep them playing. Fortnite Battle Royaledoes not do any of these. The player has a rank that rises as they play, but it doesn’t affect anything but bragging rights, so the addictive qualities of this mechanic are minimal. There are microtransactions (in-game items the player can purchase with real money), but they all contribute to the experience in ways that are fun, but don’t grant advantages that could compel someone to spend money they shouldn’t. As multiplayer games go, on a mechanical level, Fortnite is pretty tame in its addictive potential.

JONATHAN: So why do you think so many kids wanna play this?

SAMUEL: Aside from the fact that it’s legitimately fun, and only one of two major entries in its genre, I think the sheer popularity of the game contributes a lot. Popularity doesn’t always go hand-in-hand with compulsive habits, but in the case of a multiplayer game like this, it becomes a cultural phenomenon. Similar to any hugely popular event, there are a lot of people talking about it.

JONATHAN: Like how our kids tell us “everyone is on Snapchat” so they want to be on Snapchat.

SAMUEL: Exactly. Everybody’s there. They want to be there too. It’s fun to connect with people over mutual enjoyment, and just like anything as complex as this, there’s a lot to talk about. When your child has other friends online, they’ll want to play with them, and when their friends aren’t online, they’ll want to practice so they can be a credit to the team and talk about their victories with their friends. Not so much because the game itself is addicting, but because playing a video game with your friends is, just like anything else one does with one’s friends, an enjoyable bonding experience both during the game and in the discussions afterward. Especially in a game like this, where you work together and develop strategies and learn to play to the strengths and weaknesses of each team member.

It is absolutely possible to play too much Fortnite. If your child is spending five hours a day on the game, perhaps it is worth telling them to slow down and introducing some new activities or limitations.

JONATHAN: Like knitting?

SAMUEL: Sure. Or Origami.

JONATHAN: I guess we’re covering our bases for activities that will 100% get you bullied at school.

SAMUEL: Just also be careful to recognize the difference between your child spending an unhealthy amount of time on the game, and your child spending more time on the game than you personally think makes sense, and respect the fact that this is a perfectly legitimate way to spend time with friends.

JONATHAN: I might push back just a little bit at that statement and qualify it. I think gaming can be a healthy activity to do with friends, like the example you gave of you and your wife playing. You two are face-to-face friends and you’re playing a game together. If little Taylor is playing Fortnite with Michael and Morgan, each connecting from their own houses, then they laugh and talk about it the next day at school and at soccer practice, I am in full agreement. But as soon as little Taylor is showing signs of having very few face-to-face friends, and quit soccer, and never leaves the bedroom, then I’m concerned.

SAMUEL: Absolutely. And if you think the time your child is spending on Fortnite is taking away from important elements of their lives or negatively impacting their performance in school or other responsibilities, take appropriate action.

JONATHAN: Now what about its connectivity. Do I need to worry about my 12-year-old connecting and playing this with some 44-year-old naked pedophile whose posing as a 7th grader?

SAMUEL: You don’t need to worry any more than any other game that connects with others. There is a typed chat function, but it’s not very active, and the demographic of Fortnite has so many adult players as well as children that it would be a wholly nonsensical target for someone looking to prey on kids.

There’s really nothing to note here except the same basic online safety we should be teaching every child using the internet; don’t type your address or other personal information into the chat window while you’re trying to win a game, and you’ll be fine. And if that sentence sounded like a ridiculous thing to do (which it is), you may understand why it’s not much of a concern.

The bigger issue is that people can say things in the chat that the game doesn’t have programmed into it, and the video game community still unfortunately does have something of a bullying and harassment problem (which may or may not even include your child’s friend group). The game by default has a profanity filter on the text chat, but that doesn’t necessarily stop players from saying mean or offensive things, so I would recommend talking to your child to make sure they understand that such behavior is not acceptable.

JONATHAN: So if your 12-year-old wanted to play it, what would you say?

SAMUEL: I would have no problem with my 12-year old playing Fortnite. I’d be playing it right alongside them (a remarkably easy thing to do since it allows crossplay between PC, Xbox, and Playstation). It’s about as mild as multiplayer action games come, it’s a lot of fun to play, and based on my play sessions with my wife, it can be a really enjoyable bonding experience.

JONATHAN: Are there some redeeming conversations that can happen during this game?

SAMUEL: Personally, I tend to prefer story-based games for constructive conversation, but that’s just how I think. Fortnite Battle Royale is a game about ingenuity, about doing the most you can with limited, sometimes woefully outmatched resources. And if you pair up with a friend or three, it becomes a game about teamwork and communication, both of which are more bolstered by these kinds of competitive experiences than you may think. I dare say, were you to try playing this game alongside your child, you might learn something about how they work.

Ultimately, video games like Fortnite Battle Royale are only some kind of bad or threatening experience if you detach and look on, confused, while your child sinks time and energy into something you may not think is worthy of it. Like any pastime, it can be a constructive and positive experience if you do it in moderation and use it to connect with the people around you. So long as your child is doing these things (and if not, so long as you’re enforcing them), I don’t see why Fortnite shouldn’t deserve a place in your home.

JONATHAN: This has been very helpful Samuel. Thanks so much for your time!

SAMUEL: Glad to help! Now I’ve got to go do the dishes or my wife will ban me from playing Fortnitetonight!

By 10 Comments

Jonathan McKee

Jonathan McKee is the author of over twenty books including the brand new The Guy's Guide to FOUR BATTLES Every Young Man Must Face; The Teen’s Guide to Social Media & Mobile Devices; If I Had a Parenting Do Over; and the Amazon Best Seller - The Guy's Guide to God, Girls and the Phone in Your Pocket. He speaks to parents and leaders worldwide, all while providing free resources for parents on his website Jonathan, his wife Lori, and their three kids live in California.

  1. Avatar
    September 7, 2016 at 12:00 am

    This is more common than you think! It's so difficult teaching our kids the balance of loving others while not being distracted by their lifestyle. Thanks for these tips!

  2. Avatar
    Jay Sweningson
    September 8, 2016 at 12:00 am

    Great, GREAT truths here. I too majored in overreacting…it's easy to do. Thanks for another great article Jonathan!

  3. Avatar
    April 26, 2018 at 12:00 am

    Thanks for this insight. My 13 year old son loves the game and it looked relatively harmless to me, but it's always good to have confirmation from an expert 🙂

  4. Avatar
    April 26, 2018 at 12:00 am

    My soon to be 17 year old son was recently given permission to buy Xbox 1 and an Xbox Live membership. He too plays Fortnight. I think as parents we have control over our child "becoming addicted" to games if that is even possible. Our son has been asking for this for many years but we held out until he was older. When I was a kid and I got a new board game, I played it with anyone who would join me. I asked family, friends, and neighbors. I was playing my new game at least 3 or 4 times a day, maybe more. Was I addicted? I really struggle to call it that but honestly it is not much different than the less violent video games of today. Parents should get the last say on when a child is allowed to purchase and play video games. We need to exercise that right more in the life of our kids.

  5. Avatar
    April 27, 2018 at 12:00 am

    Jonathan & Samuel – what age/grade do you think is appropriate to start playing Fortnite in your opinion?

  6. Avatar
    Jonathan McKee
    May 8, 2018 at 12:00 am

    Alex… as to your question, "What age?" It's always difficult to put a specific age for every kid. I think Samuel felt (above) that he would play with his "12-year-old" if he played it with him. As for a 10-year-old… it probably depends on the kid. Personally, I think I'd "DELAY" much screen time as late as possible. We don't need our kids to be sitting in front of screens for hours each day. And when it comes to first person shooter games, I'd wait as long as possible. So if I were to give you a number… 12… only if I played with them… and only if they asked me for it.

  7. Avatar
    September 10, 2018 at 10:22 pm

    I need help. My brother won’t stop playing fortnite and he’s an adult. I can’t sleep because his room is next to mine and he screams all day and my grades are getting bad because im not getting sleep. we tried telling him to shut up but he won’t and if we try to take his game away he’ll get physical and start breaking things. he’s done it before. my mom has depression now because of my stupid brother. he’s tearing our family apart and fortnite is making him even worse. his therapist tried fixing him but he gave up too! if anyone is out there can you please please help!!! idk what to do

  8. Netflix’s “Sex Education” | Youth Pastor Network
    January 9, 2019 at 4:40 am

    […] there a chance that the pre-pubescent freshman who can’t stop playing Fortnite isn’t even curious about sex yet… or do we need to consider having these conversations […]

  9. Are Committed Christian Guys an Endangered Species?
    March 22, 2019 at 5:00 am

    […] Whenever I ask an educator that question they will always mention at least two factors: video games and weed. […]

  10. Avatar
    April 26, 2021 at 4:10 pm

    ok shit fortnite acutally is fun you can play togeter and shut up parents your fuckin stupid

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UFC 175 Preview

When you beat the man that most people consider to be the greatest fighter in UFC history a big target is painted on your back. That is the case for Chris Weidman as he would beat Anderson Silva not once but twice in 2013. It was long thought that Anderson Silva would never lose the title and that he would retire as the greatest champion in UFC history. Then came along Chris Weidman who would take full advantage of Silva’s mistakes and his cockiness. The first fight between the two would see Silva begin trying to goat Weidman into getting aggressive and making a mistake.

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April Book Review 2018

4 May

As promised, April’s book reviews! I got a little excited while at the library one day and came home with a STACK of books of all different genres. It’s been fun bouncing around such different styles of writing these past few months. I have decided though, that I’ve got to stay away from the library for a few months at least to tackle my TBR list of books that I already own!

Photo by John-Mark Smith on Unsplash

Biblically Kosher: A Messianic Jewish Perspective on Kashrut by Aaron Eby – Learn why God calls meat and dairy to be separated, hidden additives that contaminate food and practical ways to eat kosher.

~This was an easy-to-read book on eating kosher. I learned so much from it and it brought up many discussions between my OH and I about the topic. Definitely worth the read if you’re at all curious about the topic!

My Foolish Heart  (Deep Haven #4) by Susan May Warren – Unknown to her town, Isadora Presley is the voice behind Miss Foolish Heart, the talk show host guiding callers through finding  true love. When it seems that she’s falling in love with a caller, her ratings soar. What she doesn’t know is the the caller lives right next door, in the form of Caleb Knight. He has come to Deep Haven to start over after paying a steep price in Iraq. All he wants is to land the high school football coaching job and then he’ll reveal his disability. But he doesn’t count on moving in next door to a beautiful young woman. Desperate, he calls in to Miss Foolish Heart for advice.

~ As I have come to expect from Warren, this was a unique story line with endearing characters. It did take me a little bit to get fully into it though, as I felt there was so much longing for the past that it put me off. After a while, that eased and I just fell in love with Caleb, Issy and supporting characters.

The Shadow of Your Smile (Deep Haven #5) by Susan May Warren –  Noelle and Eli’s marriage is on the verge of divorce when an accident wipes Noelle’s memory of their life together. Not their life together, including their children and the tragedy that tore them apart. As she slowly finds her footing in this strange life that she’s built for herself, will their secrets tear them apart again or give them a second chance?

~Ahh, this one. What a heart-breaker. I’m learning that I have a hard time reading novels where the characters are struggling in their marriage. Aside from that, it was interesting how Warren wove the family’s restoration together after so much tragedy and ill-spoken words.

The Cozy Life : Rediscover the Joy of Simple Things Through the Danish Concept of Hygge by Pia Edberg – Learn how to slow down and enjoy each moment in every aspect of your life in this small treasure trove of inspiration and practical advice.

~This was a nice, easy read about Hygge – disconnecting from the fast-paced society (logging off social media, stepping off the rat race) and creating a life that we can enjoy and feel safe and content in. There’s even a 30 day challenge to Hygge.

Distress Signals by Catherine Ryan Howard – Adam Dunne’s life is perfect. Until his girlfriend doesn’t return from Barcelona. Until he receives her passport and a note “I’m Sorry – S”. He starts searching for her and ends up connecting her to a cruise ship called the Celebrate. And finds that another woman disappeared from the ship a year ago in eerily similar circumstances. To find out what happened, he has to make difficult decisions, do impossible things – like outsmart a predator on what seems like the perfect hunting grounds.

~You. Guys. Thrillers aren’t normally my thing. Well, if I do read them, they are Christian, aka ‘toned down’. But I’ve been following Howard online for years (hopefully that didn’t make me sound like a stalker…) I got this from the library and couldn’t. Put. It. Down. I read it in less than three days – all 368 pages of it. There was some cussing in it so beware if you decide to read it. The plot was incredible though. I was pretty much blindsided by the ending. Brilliant. I am still thinking about it, weeks later. If you enjoy a good thriller that will wake you up at night because the Killer just might be lurking in your bedroom, pick this one up.

As You Wish: Inconceivable tales from the Making of the Princess Bride by Cary Elwes – A first-person account of the making of the Cult Classic, this book is delightful. Elwes’ recounting of the whole process – from auditioning for the part of Wesley, to the 25th Reunion – will bring laughs, tears and add another level of enjoyment to watching Princess Bride

~Delightful. Absolutely Delightful. I am so glad I finally read this! If you’re a fan of Princess Bride, you have got to get your hands on a copy of this.

Currently Reading:

You Don’t Know Me by Susan May Warren

The House at Pooh Corner by A.A. Milne

How to be a Friend to a Friend Who’s Sick by Letty Cottin Pogrebin

Taken by Dee Henderson

Gifts of the Spirit by First Fruits of Zion

To Read:

Dear Theo: the Autobiography of Vincent Van Gogh by Irving Stone

A Billion Reasons Why by Kristin Billerbeck

Whispers of the Moor series by Sarah Ladd

Constantine’s Sword by James Carroll

2 Responses to “April Book Review 2018”

  1. July 2018 Book Reviews | the start of a good life - August 10, 2018

    […] to share a few of the books I’ve read in the past three odd months (my last review post was April’s) If you want to see everything I’ve read since then, go check out my Goodreads […]

  2. My Favorite Reads of 2018 | the start of a good life - January 12, 2019

    […] As you Wish : Inconceivable Tales of the making of Princess Bride by Cary Elwes […]

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Little Blossoms for Jesus

• Enjoying the old-fashioned & beautiful • • Thankful for grace • Growing in faith • • Learning life • Loving people •

A Musing Maverick

Ilse Davison

Elaine Howlin

lost in the pages of books

See Jayne Run

Navigating with Chronic Illness in a Self Absorbed World

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Choosing Love over Fear

When it comes to mobilization in campaigning and activism, an impressive body of scholarship has provided campaigners and activists with valuable findings on human psychology and behaviour. The focus here tends to be primarily on cognition and rationality, motivated by a strive to gain better understanding of target audiences and to tailor campaign strategies. The bottom line is that in order to mobilize people it is important to also take into account affective or emotional dimensions. Even though emotions are a comparatively unexplored field, they are “as much a part of culture as cognitive understandings and moral visions” (Jasper 1998, p398).

Rollin McCraty and his colleagues from the Institute of HeartMath are among those who strongly emphasise the significance of emotions. Their research has found that whilst a “two-way communication between the cognitive and emotional systems is hard wired into the brain, the actual number of neutral connections going from the emotional processing areas to the cognitive centers is greater than the number going the other way” (McCraty, 2015, p78). This explains the huge influence emotions have on our thinking and implies that decisions we call rational are deeply rooted in our emotional system.

“There are two basic motivating forces; fear and love. When we are afraid from life, we pull back from life. When we are in love, we open to all that life has to offer with passion, excitement and passion”  – John Lennon

The current US election and Brexit referendum, both of which arguably represent votes fuelled by and based on fear have given ample evidence that we need to shift our focus towards the phenomenon of fear. However, if we want to simultaneously shift our attention to something that may be able to counter fear, I would concur with John Lennon and argue that it is love that can create an anti-pole to fear.

Building upon the work of cellular biologist Bruce Lipton, who has found that a cell has two basic functions – growth or protection – Devaney (2016) writes that at times a cell needs to close off and protect itself. However, since extended periods of time in a closed system do not allow for adaption and change, the cell cannot grow, which would require an open system. “Ultimately,” he writes, “just like the cells within us, we have a choice between acting from love or fear. Love is an open system built on trust. Fear is a closed system built on suspicion and lack of trust” (Devaney, 2016). Consequently, I would argue that in order to create real and long lasting social change, to shape a world in which we can live together more peacefully based on mutual respect, we need to make sure that our campaigns and actions are based on and seek to propagate love instead of fear. Whilst fear surely is a powerful tool that can mobilize people quickly, fear ultimately leads to a dead end: perpetual fear. Love, on the other hand, whilst perhaps less immediate, is ultimately the only way to move us forward.

Devaney, J. (2016). Will Humanity Choose Love and Fear? Uplift Connect, 28 December. Available from [Accessed 30 December 2016]

Jasper, J.M. (1998). The Emotions of Protest: Affective and Reactive Emotions in and around Social Movements. Sociological Forum, 13(3), 397-424.

McCraty, R. (2015). Heart-Brain Neurodynamics: The Making of Emotions. Issues of the Heart: The Neuropsychotherapist, special issued, 76-110. Available from [Accessed 30 December 2016]

Schwartz, S.H. (2012). Basic Human Values: An Overview. Available from [Accessed 30 December 2016]

8 thoughts on “Choosing Love over Fear

  1. Here here! Being a dual citizen with the UK and the USA – the outcomes of the Brexit and the Election has given rise to some fear levels. Being a natural ‘what if’ person this could lead to a downward emotional spiral. Your blog reminds me to focus on love in a time of fear. In some Common Cause readings, they also advocate that campaigns focus on intrinsic values, of which love is one. Equally, it’s a reminder that fear is a risk in any campaign and thought should be made on how to counter-act that emotion in people too. Thanks for the post!

    Liked by 1 person

  2. I really enjoyed reading this post and I think it bring about some very interesting points regarding the longevity and sustainability of campaigning. In your piece you used two examples, the US presidential election and the EU referendum: campaigns which I agree were based on fear and anger, respectively. In relation to this, I wonder if you think the two alternatives, Hilary Clinton and the Remain campaign, campaigned with the emotion or feeling of love, or whether we require a more revolutionary parties or groups which hold this ideal to eventually overthrow and negate the prevalence of fear and anger in our current political system?

    1. Hi Bridey, thank you for your extensive comment. I am happy to answer your question…, but rather in person. I have to write a few more blog posts and this answer would be a long one based on philosophic ground. So, please remind me next semester in class…

      Liked by 1 person

  3. Great post, very true, we need to be reminded of the power of love to conquer fear and no doubt when campaigning for any issue, it is the love that will get you through. The other way of looking at it is the addressing and looking at people with different ideas and values from ours through the love lens. As you mentioned with the US and Brexit outcomes, it is time to pause and perhaps evaluate what has gone wrong.

  4. Just stopping by to say, I agree wholeheartedly. It’s about focussing on love with is closely related to feelings of outrage then followed with a whole load of hope. Check out Manuel Castell’s here talking about trends in social movements. His argument is that most social order is based on fear and control of information and communications, he gives examples of social movements for dignity based on emotional outburst in “non-tolerable” situations. I agree with him too 🙂

  5. Dear ‘The Unknown’, I want to thank you for this beautiful post which inspired me to write.

    You can find the post here, which I called ‘Why to love hate?’. I hope you enjoy reading as much as I enjoyed reading yours 🙂

    I look forward to further discussions about these important topics.

    Thanks for helping bringing more light to the world :).

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The Outsider is a post-rock project from Italian multi-instrumentalist and producer Andrea Cicala, he released his first album in November 2017, it’s called “Beauty Awakens The Soul to Act” and a few weeks ago, came up with his somophore album called “Hyeon”.

“Hyeon” is composed by 9-Tracks and has absolutely an excellent composition and performance, has an incommensurable beauty from the beginning to the end, since “Intro” to “The Deep Roar of The Breaking Waves”, which is an astonishing piece on the album.

The album has different colors and shades, there are darkest parts, there are happy ones too, there are passages with an intense rhythm, parts that are euphoric and parts that definitely are much melancholic, everything sounds perfect, like every instrument recorded it’s in his right place, at the right moment.
The atmosphere, wow, what can I say about that? It makes a lot of thoughts come alive, a lot of emotions, it gave me chills, I think there’s no need of saying more, definitely, this is a record you have to listen to and experiment by yourself what I’m saying.

The picture that reflects in my head while listening to it, is the place where I want to be, the album cover reflects somehow the concept of the album, it’s kinda hard for me to explain it, but hope you get it.
For albums like this, is hard to choose a favorite song but I think “Materia” gets the first place.
You can listen and buy the album below:

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text:
The American Dream: A Fix For America

Walking the line between sensuality and reality leaves me a little dizzy. ‘Give me Freedom or give me Death’ is obsolete. There are varying shades of freedom and death in Blueray and Digital surrounding me. A colorful vortex sucks at my bones; luring me with promises that I know will leave me docile and apathetic. Jump in, be happy!

Jump in, be happy! The American Dream is your ‘fix’!  And, everything comes with a promise. How do you know who will keep their promise? Who can you trust? Trust is much more than a word. How do you chose without knowing? How do you find the truth? It takes a ‘pioneering spirit’ and time; you can’t buy time, control it, or ever seem to have enough. If you are not making time to filter through the muck; that colorful vortex is sucking at your bones, luring you with promises which are leaving you apathetic and docile! And the truth no longer matters!

Where to begin? Let’s step back in time and examine what shaped our society. Sigmund Fraud wrote about  ‘human psychosis’.  What does Fraud have to do with the ‘American Dream’? A little history. Fraud discovered humans had feelings we repressed because they were too dangerous: remnants of our animal past. As he witnessed the horror of war mounting; he believed war to be terrible evidence of exactly how we should have expected people to behave given the knowledge of our psychoanalysis.

I surmise that our ‘animal past’ gave us a limited ability to communicate; and as a result, we were more inclined to battle for what we wanted. However, our evolution into intelligent beings, with increased communication skills, should have curtailed our nature to battle for what we want. This being said; is it our ‘animal past’ that keeps us in the battle or is it purely economics?

It only took me a couple of minutes to ‘filter through the muck’ to get to this information.

“I spent thirty-three years and four months in active military service as a member of this country’s most agile military force, the Marine Corps. I served in all commissioned ranks from Second Lieutenant to Major-General. And during that period, I spent most of my time being a high-class muscle-man for Big Business, for Wall Street and for the Bankers. In short, I was a racketeer, a gangster for capitalism.”

―  Smedley D. Butler

How did people of our nation come to accept everything that the medias’ feed us? Without question, we believe the glossy advertisements as truth and we buy what is being sold.  We have to go back in time a little to look at how we were duped and continue to be duped.

We have let others tell us what the ‘American Dream’ should be! Fraud’s American nephew, Edward Bernays was the first man to show American corporations how to make people want what they do not need; manipulating the masses; linking mass-produced goods to our unconscious desires. Out of this came a new political idea of how to control the masses: by satisfying people’s inner selfish desires, one made them happy and thus docile. The start of the all-consuming ‘Self’ which is come to dominate the world today!

Armed with this knowledge, American Corporations learned how to package and present anything they could make a ‘buck’ on to the American people…war was dressed in patriotic speeches and love of country becoming the ultimate commodity for those who would benefit.

Education is a ‘pillar post’ to humanities foundation: And, if you take the time to educate and do research you will see how we came to our nation’s crisis; you will find yourself motivated to get out of the ‘muck’ and this crisis. You may also find yourself wanting to ‘shoot the messengers’ who present the facts of how we got here. Go beyond that notion. Go deeper. Their solutions may not be what you can take hold of, but their solutions will give you ideas to build on. You will discover solutions you can hold on to.  Solutions to our bleak reality do not exist in continuing the model we’ve created…it is NOT working for the majority of us! We need a new kind of ‘Paradigm’. I believe, whenever given the opportunity and mechanism to do so, people are good, kind and supportive. There are new ‘paradigms’ to build on. New ‘opportunities and mechanisms’ to be apart of…we simply must not give up our pioneering spirit.

I’ve worked hard for some piece of the American Dream for almost 70 years. I’ve come up with a tiny bit…and I could probably stop with what I have. However, my ‘pioneering spirit’ and my nature to be ‘good, kind and supportive’ will not let me be content. I have a vision that humans can be all that is good in the world. Through my ‘looking glass’ I’ve found some ‘new paradigms’.  If you are visionary enough and can learn to trust a little more you will seek out these ‘new paradigms’ and change our History! Here is one such paradigm! There many out there with real answers and solutions. One, in particular, has caught my attention…Kate Raworth. Her Doughnut Economy: Seven Ways to Think Like a 21st Century Economist can be pushed into the light!

Happy Visionary Trails!


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Gift Economy: Spending From the Heart

Welcome. I’ll try and make this short, sweet and maybe a little entertaining.   And, of course, it’s somewhat free.

We’re all looking for ways to lighten our load; cut expenses and still get things done and maybe find some enjoyment.  We are in the time of the ‘shrinking dollar’. Jobs are almost non-existent and we have to ‘tighten our belts’, in far too many instances,  without starving. Who’s to blame? I’ll point my finger at you and me.  Who else can be held responsible. We each participated in someway to bring us to this juncture…again. You would think we would have learned a few lessons…just shows you how much attention some of us are paying.  Much of what we are doing is simply not working.  Now, we’ve got to dig ourselves out…yet, again.

How can we make things easier on ourselves and maybe change directions? This may sound simplistic, however, increasing our Bartering efforts is just a tiny tip on the iceberg of getting through these ‘hard times’. Some seem embarrassed when offering to barter. There is  nothing to be ashamed of; societies often turn to ‘bartering’ when in a time of  ‘money crisis’. And, we certainly can’t argue about the ‘money crisis’ we’re in.

In case you are unfamiliar with the bartering system; it is a method of exchange by which goods or services are exchanged for goods and services without using a medium of exchange like ‘money’. It’s usually ‘bilateral‘ and has always existed along side monetary systems. Most cultures of the world have based their ‘exchange system’ on ‘flat money’. And look at what most culture are experiencing!

Bartering has a long history. I’ve been bartering in one way or another all my life. Interestingly, when I looked ‘bartering’ up I found out that ‘there is no evidence of a society or economy that relied primarily on barter’. Non-monetary societies operated largely along the principles of gift economics. That sounds like the movie ‘Pay It Forward’ or going deep into ‘living from the heart’ …here’s hoping you’re a ‘Taoist’ or a serious ‘Christian’.

Just to recap. The dollar bill is all but disappeared, it’s time to look at other strategies and integrate more of our heart into the economy; which may include a combination of  ‘monetary systems’; flat money, barter, gift economy and looking at new ways of supporting each other.  Let’s  increase our efforts to do these things.  Let’s think ‘outside the box’ a little more. We all know jobs are limited. The feed back about our circumstances seems bleak! But we humans are incredible, we always seem to get up after a fall.

Here are some things we can do to make life easier.

  1. Go over your expenses and cut back everywhere you can. I just cut my expenses $130 a month. That’s almost $1600 a year.
  2. Barter whenever possible.
  3. Practice ‘gift economics’.
  4. Look closely at companies that offer ‘enlightened capitalism‘.
  5. Get back to a more ‘need based’ economy.
  6. Call everyone you are doing business with and see what specials they might offer.
  7. Do more outdoor activities; hiking, camping, picnicing, etc.
  8. Support your Parks.
  9. Scrutinize every dollar you spend.
  10. Be prepared for great things to happen.

I’m making a commitment to do all 10 of these things…let’s see what happens.

Happy trails!


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Wanderers finding their A-League groove

Wanderers' Steven Ugarkovic enjoyed an impressive 40 minutes when he came off the bench.
Camera IconWanderers' Steven Ugarkovic enjoyed an impressive 40 minutes when he came off the bench. Credit: AAP

Western Sydney coach Carl Robinson reckons his star-studded but unpredictable A-League side have found their groove and rhythm, as they battle to keep their finals hopes alive.

The Wanderers followed up last week's dramatic 3-2 derby win over Sydney with a 5-0 drubbing of fellow finals aspirants Western United on Saturday.

Their best performance of the season lifted Western Sydney back into the top six, though seventh placed Brisbane were just a point behind with three games in hand, prior to Sunday's away clash with ladder leaders Melbourne City.

"The last two games we've got into our groove, got into our rhythm, we've taken our chances, which is important, and we've defended for our lives," Robinson said.

"Football is about what you do in both boxes, the key to it all is defending, last ditch tackles, blocking, heading, all these things.

"On the top end of the pitch it's a little bit of quality and a little bit of luck sometimes as well, so we've got that in the last two games."

Robinson gave midfielder and new recruit Steven Ugarkovic almost 40 minutes off the bench on Saturday.

"People don't really realise how good he is until you get to work with him because he's the complete package," Robinson said.

"Now he's got to challenge himself a little bit more to get to the level he wants and he will make players around him better."

Robinson wasn't concerned the late season additions to his squad of Ugarkovic and former Socceroos striker Scott McDonald, another second half substitute on Saturday, would cause any complications or selection issues.

"It doesn't give me problems at all. I think managers who have been in the game a while will say to you that you can never have enough good players," Robinson said.

Western United coach Mark Rudan was intent on putting the club's heaviest loss behind them as soon as possible.

Rudan was sympathetic rather than angry about his team's performance and was clearly unhappy about a tough schedule

They backed up three days after suffering a last-gasp loss in Queensland and had to take a flight on the day of Saturday's game.

"I can't blame the players, they tried hard out there," Rudan said after his club dropped to eighth in the table.

"From the first minute, they were obviously a lot fresher than us but we've got to move on.

"One coach told me, I remember, being on the end of a worse result, that he'd much rather lose one game 5-0 than five games 1-0 - and that's exactly how we're going to take this and look at this.

"We've got a game on Wednesday in Perth, so we've got to try and do the best we can to rest and recover."

Wanderers, who had a full week to prepare to face United, also play their next game in Perth, but not until next Sunday.

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Wedding Flowers

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Full Floral Wedding Flowers

Full Floral Wedding Flowers

The Full Floral service covers everything from wild and beautiful bouquets, dramatic ceremony backdrops and stylish tablescapes.

It includes rental of vases and containers, and options for rental of candlesticks, delivery, set up and transferring flowers from ceremony to reception.

Prices start at €2,000.

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Flowers for Collection

Flowers for Collection

Our Flowers for Collection can take care of individual elements such as bouquets and key arrangements, and have these available for collection the day before your wedding.

This is ideal for elopements and those looking for a simpler “package” style approach to their wedding flowers.

Prices on application

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Amber & Muse; Cloud Shoot at Borris House with Petal and Twine and Alice Ahn Photography.
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Contemporary Irish elopement shoot at Cliff townhouse with Love and Gatherings and Ivana Patarcic.
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“Your flowers were more beautiful than I could have imagined. Everyone was talking about them! They are certainly the most gorgeous flowers I have ever seen at a wedding!” Ailbhe & James, Borris House, May 2019

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Luann was my copyeditor for a number of the earlier Guild Hunter novels. I found her notes and copyedits clear and useful, and really appreciated the style sheets she put together for each book on which she worked. She is a consummate professional.

Nalini Singh, New York Times best-selling author of the Guild Hunter Series and the Psy/Changeling Series

I love working with Luann. She has copyedited several of my projects, and she’s unfailingly pleasant, professional, flexible, and she has a terrific eye for continuity, content, grammar and phrasing. I also love how she creates style sheets for both my full-length novels and my shorter works. My series is better because of her, and I thank her for it.

Thea Harrison, New York Times best-selling author of the Elder Races Series and the Game of Shadows novels

All for You has been nominated for an Romantic Times Reviewers Choices Best Indie Contemporary (2015). Thank you so much again for all your work polishing it and making it shine!

Laura Florand, international best-selling author of the Amour et Chocolat series

One of the hardest jobs a copyeditor can do is to get a book-length text right when there are special or exceptional rules.  There are plenty of  (but never enough) good copyeditors who are able to mostly-correctly apply a few of the standard style guides, like Words Into Type or the Chicago Manual, but very few who can thoroughly learn a really different style sheet and apply it perfectly.  Luann is one of the very few people I’ve seen do that, and she got it right the first time, and in a manuscript where she had to cope both with some unusual scientific/technical stylesheet issues, and the demanding and complicated Federal/National Security style. Furthermore, she was the only copyeditor that series ever had who meticulously checked chronology on the datelines that are a key feature of the narrative style, and caught me in more errors than I like to admit. She made me look a lot smarter than I actually am!  I would trust her — actually, I intend to request her — for any specialty copyediting job that requires the ability to learn a lot of new material quickly and apply it meticulously and accurately. So should you!

John Barnes, author of The Last President (part of the Daybreak Series), and of 30 other commercial novels

Working with Luann was an absolute delight. She was incredibly responsive and supportive, not to mention her edits refined my manuscript and gave it that professional polish it needed to make it stand out. I was impressed by the level of detail and thoughtfulness in her comments, Luann showed that she not only cared about my story, but she understood on a technical level the tone I was striving for and was instrumental in helping me get there.  She’s a true fan of the genre, and has a solid understanding of pacing, character development and style. What really stood out to me was how invested she is in her client’s success.
Upon finishing her edits, I received one of the kindest and most encouraging emails from her that I’ve ever received that included some advice on marketing and positioning the book that was key in helping me successfully pitch my book to an agent. I could not have done this without her and I’m already looking forward to having her help me copy edit the rest of my series!
Rahaf Harfoush, Digital Foresight Strategist & Author

My books always came back better than ever after having been in Luann’s hands for a while.  Her eagle eye made them shine!

M. Leighton,  author of the Wild Ones series and the Bad Boys series


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Showing Sympathy to Children and Teenagers

Sympathy begins with connection.

Firstly the genuine desire and effort must be there to try to see things through your child’s eyes.  Without that you are trying to use tricks to manipulate your child.  That is not true parenting.  That kind of parenting is selfish.  Children are not objects for us to try and figure out how to control, rather they are unique agents with unique feelings, desires and dreams.  As parents, compassion and understanding is the foundation of all we can do to help them reach their full potential and it has to be genuine, not faked to try and manipulate.   You may not be able to understand your child’s feelings straight away. It may take time, but with effort and a genuine desire it will come.

Some ways to show your sympathy and understanding.

  1. Listen with a nod, a sound or a word.
  2. Put their thoughts and feelings into words.
  3. Wishing! Give them what they want in fantasy when they can’t have it in reality.

1. Listen with a nod, a sound or a word.

2. Put their thoughts and feelings into words.

Examples: A fight between children.

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Parent’s response.  “She made you so angry, you wanted to hit her!”

A child struggling with homework.

Royalty Free Clipart Image of a Frustrated Person Doing Taxes or Homework

Parent’s response.  “When you spend so long trying and you find the homework confusing, it is so frustrating!”

3. Wishing!  Give them what they want in fantasy.

A common challenge for children…

Don't Like School Clipart

Parent’s response.  “Wouldn’t it be great if you could watch T.V. as long as you wanted, then go to school when you got bored!  Or…if you could choose which days are school days and which days are holidays!…Or if you could be the Headmaster and decide to close the school whenever you wanted to!”

“It is easier to deal with reality if a friend can give us what we want in fantasy.” – Faber & Mazlish

The difference between teenagers and children.

“Teenagers do not want instant understanding.  When troubled by conflicts, they feel unique.  Their emotions seem new, personal, private.  No one else ever felt just so.  They are insulted when told, “I know exactly how you feel.  At your age I felt the same.”  It distresses them to be so transparent, so naive, so simple, when they feel complex, mysterious and inscrutable.  To sense when a teenager needs understanding and when misunderstanding is a difficult and delicate task.  The sad truth is that no matter how wise we are, we cannot be right for any length of time in our teenagers’ eyes.”  Dr Haim Ginott.


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Ohio Police Untangle Trapped Buck from Soccer Net

Ohio Police Untangle Trapped Buck from Soccer Net

Officers John Fink and Jeremy Puhac of the Brunswick (OH) Police Department were called to assist animal control officers who were unable to free a deer entangled in a soccer net.

The officers arrived at the scene to find that the deer had dragged the net off the playing field, and behind some houses, in an attempt to free itself.

The officers quickly worked with residents form the nearby area to detangle the net - using tree-trimming equipment to cut the netting loose from the animal's antlers.

The buck was soon free — until it got caught on the other side of the soccer net as it tried to run away.

Again, the police officers and some onlookers worked to cut the deer from the netting until he successfully broke free.

Once freed, the deer took off and ran back into the wild – fortunately without having sustained any injuries. As it was about to enter the forest, it paused, and turned back, as if to thank the officers and residents that had just helped – before resuming its foray back into the wild.

Great job Officers Fink and Puhac! Another day... another life saved :)

You can watch the dramatic rescue below:

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