Not for the first time, Brandi Carlile sings my soul.
And though the footage is nicer in the above, this one has the end of the song, so I’m putting both…
Author Archives: Tim Byrd
If Adventure Has A Name… (My Latest IMJ Pulp Column)
He knows.
My latest column on pulp adventure is up at Inveterate Media Junkies. This month I’m discussing pulp movies.
If Adventure Has A Name (Pulp On The Big Screen)
And if you missed the earlier columns:
I’m The Answer (Song of the Week, 9/26/2011)
Tim Byrd's Doc Wilde, Art by Gary Chaloner
Pete Townsend’s brother, Simon, with my theme song. Of the week.
Song of the Week for 9/11/2011
Live. Love. Breathe. Dance. Sing. Create. Follow your heart. And be there for people.
It’s too easy to lose each other. And time is always short.
I’m Reading DC’s “New 52” Comics (Part 1)
As you may or may not know, this month DC Comics relaunched its entire line of superhero titles with a batch of 52 comics all starting at issue #1.
They’re doing this in a bid to increase their readership and market share in a time when comic sales are declining. They’re also fully embracing the digital market for the first time (something neither they nor Marvel have done previously), with every title available digitally on the day of release.
Creatively, they’ve decided to reset the timeline of the stories. The characters are (mostly) younger now, operating earlier in their careers. Some of the previous canon of events are still considered to have occurred (Barbara “Batgirl” Gordon was shot by the Joker, paralyzing her; Superman died and came back in that ludicrous Doomsday storyline used in a previous desperate bid for publicity), some did not (Superman hasn’t married Lois Lane). The mish-mash of what officially happened and didn’t happen, and when, is implicitly perilous to the goal of solid continuity for the DC universe, and could easily spin out of control as everything is juggled by the many creators involved.
The first batch of titles is out, and I’ve read them. Here are my impressions: Continue reading
You’re Not Awesome
This blog post by Melissa Pierce is the wisest bit of wisdom I’ve read from anybody in a while…
It’s the Apocalypse. My Bad.
When I was a kid, I’d sometimes slip into action movie mode while doing mundane tasks. One of the ways I did this was to suddenly realize that there was a doomsday timer attached to my current action, and if I didn’t accomplish it in time, the world would explode.
Will I finish tying my shoe before the phone rings again…or will the world EXPLODE…?
Can I keep holding my breath until the commercial ends…or will the world EXPLODE…?
Will I make it through the evening without my father getting drunk and mean…or will the world EXPLODE…?
The world exploded fairly regularly on that last one.
This morning, I woke up at six, the time I get up when my son is here and has school. But he’s with his mom today, so there was no reason to get up that early, so I went back to sleep.
I had an odd dream in which I was visiting New York on a whim, seeing old friends and older enemies. And I misplaced my copy of The Trembling of a Leaf, the best porn erotic novel I ever read.
I woke up again and it was after nine. Later than intended, but no big deal, I have no place to be. Grabbed my iPad from the bedside, headed to the living room, put the iPad on the couch, and let the cat in for breakfast (“Noms,” quoth he). In the kitchen, I poured a cup of last night’s coffee and put it in the microwave for a minute and a half.
I fed the cat. Went to take a leak. Pulled on a shirt. Returned to the living room. I picked up the iPad and reached for its cord to plug it in to charge…and heard the hum of the microwave, still nuking my coffee.
I suddenly realized I had to stick the plug into the iPad before the microwave chimed…
I acted swiftly, bringing my hands toward each other, aiming the little plug for the slot at the gadget’s base. They touched. I wiggled the plug into position–
DING.
The world exploded.
The Hard Life of the Spoiled eReader…
Anyone who has ever waited tables will recognize the dynamics of the following conversation. This is why I’m glad I don’t work in customer service any more:
J.A. KonrathKonrath & Crouch discuss the future of ebooks, and a new sales idea for authors. http://t.co/nqX8cXo
12 hours ago via TweetPo.st ·
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5 people like this.
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Katie Hardin If you want to keep a reader like me you need to keep the middleman, because books not purchased through Amazon cannot be transferred to the Kindle App on the iPod or iPhone.7 hours ago · -
Tim Byrd Actually the Kindle apps will open any file in the proper format.
5 hours ago · -
Tim Byrd Additionally, if you’re using an iPod/iPhone/iPad, you can use other apps like Stanza or iBooks.
5 hours ago · -
Katie Hardin maybe the newest upgrade does, but this time last year with the Kindle version of the Dracula ARC Amazon confirmed that titles not downloaded from Amazon would not transfer to the kindle app.2 hours ago ·
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Tim Byrd All I know is I have books on my iPad that I didn’t get from Amazon but are in Kindle format, I read them using the Kindle app, and they show up in my Kindle menu.
2 hours ago · -
Katie Hardin yes and the iPad is a tablet i.e. more computer than a e-reader. I can read titles in the Kindle for PC app on my computer that have not been gotten from Amazon, but i cannot transfer them to my device.2 hours ago ·
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Tim Byrd OK, I see.
I think the way i do it is to email the file to myself, or put it in my Dropbox, then click on it on the iPad. It gives you the option of opening it in Kindle, and once you have, it’s in the menu.
Let me make sure that’s the way…I’ll post an update.
2 hours ago · -
Katie Hardin As a reader I want to read on the app I prefer. If an author wants to make that harder for me by only offering their books from their website and in effect forcing me to use an app such as Stanza rather than the one I prefer to read on…there are plenty of other authors to read2 hours ago ·
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Katie Hardin I love reading Joe’s books. Unfortunately as a reader I wasn’t willing to pay the same price for an e-Book as a print version costs…so I missed the last one. Guess I’ll be missing more titles by him if that .54¢ is more important to him than a loyal reader2 hours ago ·
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Tim Byrd
Okay, I just sent a mobi file (the Kindle format) to myself, then clicked to open it on my iPad. I got a pop-up menu that gave me the option of opening it in Kindle. I clicked, it downloaded it in a few seconds, and opened properly. Now it’s in my Kindle library.
I’d say you’re being unfair to the authors, who are in this scenario simply trying to make a living with their work as well as they can, except many people won’t want to be bothered with taking an extra step or two, or using a different app, so your concern isn’t one to dismiss.
Also, it remains true that the Kindle will only read its dedicated format, not one of the open formats like epub that can be used more broadly. Hopefully Amazon will stop being so stridently controlling and shift to epub down the line.
2 hours ago · -
Katie Hardin I’m just saying having to get someone to send me a referral to Dropbox, having to set my iPod up to get email, then having to email that file, and transfer it to the app I want is too much of a hassle when there are so many other one click buys I could open much faster.2 hours ago ·
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Tim Byrd Anyway, if the author makes the book available on his website in mobi format, you can put it on your device.
2 hours ago · -
Katie Hardin And in the case of Rowling…too little too late. I’m betting those 7 books aren’t going to be priced under $3about an hour ago ·
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Tim Byrd I hope she manages to sell a few anyway. Hate to see her have to go back on the dole.
about an hour ago · -
Katie Hardin and that is the whole underlying layer to this. Greed. When authors suddenly don’t care how much more work the reader has to do just so the author can cut out the middleman and make .54¢ more for this reader it goes to far and those negative feelings effect my enjoyment of reading that title.about an hour ago ·
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Tim Byrd It took me less effort to transfer and open that file in Kindle than it has to type my comments here.
about an hour ago · -
Katie Hardin sorry you’re right my opinion as a reader is obviously not valid. I must be over exaggerating the difference between typing on a 2 inch wide touch screen keyboard and an iPad keyboardabout an hour ago ·
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Tim Byrd
My point wasn’t that your opinion isn’t valid. My point was that the amount of effort it takes to actually perform the vexing task of getting a book you presumably want to read onto your device is negligible. Making a sandwich is a more taxing task. If that slight effort is enough to keep you from reading a book, then you didn’t really want to read that book.
Also, though it should be obvious, I’m not speaking in any way for Mr. Konrath. I was trying to help you.
about an hour ago · -
Katie Hardinso my not wanting to be required to perform a “vexing task” (which since you do not use an iPod to read you have no idea how vexing it is) implies I am lazy and that readers should be expected to work if they want to read a certain title, because it is more important that an author increase the money they are paid by 37% rather than remain loyal to readers and a distribution system that developed & opened up better opportunities for them7 minutes ago ·
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Tim Byrd You may not be lazy, but you’re certainly possessed of a highly developed sense of entitlement. Would you like Joe to come turn the pages for you?
2 minutes ago ·
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We All Have A Story
In this video, an 18 year old woman tells us her story, and it is a very moving story indeed.
Good Jesus, Bad Jesus
What is the heart and soul of Christianity in America?
If you pay attention to most of the news related to Christianity, what you see is hatred and intolerance, militarism and fascism, a lockjawed embrace of ignorance, and a blind adherence to principles which seem to actually fly in the face of those presented by Christ himself.
Last week I was fortunate (blessed?) to have the opportunity to see the two extremes of Christian behavior, and while the first was disheartening, the second was wonderful.
First, the suck. Continue reading
Where IS My Mind? My Return, My Headspace, and the Song of the Week…
It’s been a while.
Partly this was due to a very enjoyable New York vacation (thanks again, Phil & Angie, with a drunken shout-out to Ross), partly due to a general psychological crunch brought on by a major health scare (which proved to be false, thank the gods) and the last radioactive traces of the break-up I’d been trying to fix for way too long, partly due to what seems to be a normalization process in my brain after the giddy trauma of electroshock therapy.
I’ve been out of town and off my game. And most definitely off track.
But, I’m back. I’m healthy. My heart is healed, if still grieving at the loss of someone who would be a fine friend (but who, in truth, I think was right about our romantic incompatibility…the signs were there all along, I just chose to ignore them). And the worst of the crazy brought on by my ECT treatments seems to have receded, leaving me still better able to deal with my demon depression, but not an emotional basket case. It’s like my spine has returned from sabbatical. I am again myself. Mostly. I think.
Now it’s time to get back to work. I’m renewing my commitment to my On Track program, formally beginning this coming Monday. And I’m going to be fine-tuning it some, based on my earlier experiences (for instance, I’m upping my daily minimum word count for writing to 1,000 rather than 500).
Also, I should be on here more again. I hope you’ll join me.
In the meantime, here’s the first Song of the Week in a while, a haunting and lovely piano cover of the Pixies’ “Where Is My Mind” by Maxence Cyrin.
As America Sinks…
The boat is sinking.
Supporting the Democrats is bailing water with a bucket with a hole in it.
Supporting Republicans is shooting more holes in the boat’s bottom with an automatic shotgun, hoping the water will drain out.
Supporting third party candidates is hoping a playmate-laden sailboat will come by and save us.
What do we do?
Can’t Stop A Train
Great song by the Derailers (perhaps the perfect theme band for my weeks “off track” of late)…
Another mile, another memory
of a love I’m trying to forget
There’s no cure, for my misery,
or I haven’t found it yetChorus:
Can’t stop a train, can’t stop a heart;
I’m feeling pain when it’s falling apart
Can’t keep the one you love from changing;
When it’s rolling, can’t stop a trainOur love is a raging fire that consumes my heart and soul
It ran hot right down to the wire when it burns out of control
Where is our love, was it just a sweet dream?
So good while it lasted, now it’s gone, moving on,
can’t stop a trainRepeat Chorus
When it’s gone, moving on, can’t stop a train, can’t stop a train
If He Can Do It…
If you need a bit of perspective on life…
Laughing My Ass Off: A Hilarious Review of a WTF Batman Story
Whoever you are, whether you’re a Batman fan or not, whether you’re a comic book fan or not, if you like to laugh, you should read the review of Batman: Odyssey at Comics Alliance.
Today, Editor-in-Chief Laura Hudson and contributor David Wolkin sit down and attempt the nigh-impossible task of figuring out exactly what happens in Odyssey, a book that has both challenged and redefined our notions of Batman, comics, and our tenuous grasp on sanity…
Neal Adams is one of the all-time great comic book artists, the man who truly defined the cool modern Batman. For many years as a kid, I had a huge poster of this Adams image on my wall:
Unfortunately, as is sometimes the case in comic publishing, someone at DC thought, “Hey, the man can draw, I bet that means he can write too!” Because after all, writing is easy, right? And they gave Neal no telling how much money to do a twelve issue epic series about Batman. The result seems to be one of the most completely batshit crazy comic book stories in history.
You need to read the review. Honestly. I laughed till I couldn’t breathe while I read it. I had to take breaks so I wouldn’t asphyxiate myself. It’s comedy gold, and I say that as someone who hasn’t even seen the comic book in question.
Deconstructing the Complete and Utter Insanity of Batman: Odyssey
Nails
I don’t know the source of this tale, but it’s one I needed to read and it found its way to me.
Grandson, why are you so full of hateful words?
Grandmother, because I am angry and I feel like saying what I want and who cares anyway, they are just words!
Grandson, here is a box of nails and a hammer. Go and every time you abuse someone or tease or say other hurtful things hit a nail into the fence.
Grandmother, I have used all the nails in your box what now?
Grandson, every time you say something nice to someone you have spoken badly to or even apologise for your words take a nail out of the fence.
Grandmother, I am finished but it took a lot longer to take them out then to hit them all in.
Yes, Grandson, and you see all these holes left behind from the nails?
Grandmother, of course I can see them..why do you ask?
Grandson, every time you hurt someone with words or deeds you make a hole in their hearts and leave scars you can’t see… so even when you apologize or do good deeds later, you remove the nails but a scar or hole remains and takes a lot more time to heal…
“What A Wonderful World” (Song of the Week 7/4/11)
It is a wonderful world. I hope to have a lot more time to experience its magic with those I love.
My Pulp Pit Column at IMJ Returns! Pulp Pit #2: “I Am Not Doc Savage”
After many travails, my second column at Inveterate Media Junkies is now finally online:
Scary [Updated]
Severe heartbreak. Deaths of old friends. A resurgence of depression. My son outta town for a couple weeks.
And now…drumroll please…cancer scare!
What the fuck, is it sweeps week?
[UPDATE: After the tests, it turned out I was okay.]
Turns out, my digestive trauma/internal bleeding back around the turn of the year, maybe significant. Turns out, dropping twenty pounds in a month and a half and not being able to regain any of it, maybe significant. Turns out, a few warts and an odd bump in my skin, maybe significant. Turns out, uncharacteristically major spikes of stress caused by minor upsets, maybe significant.
So today was day 1 of tests. Friday’s day 2, with a specialist, and this morning the doc pointed me to another specialist who I’ll likely see next week. Today was all about blood. Friday is likely to be a biopsy. And day 3 will probably entail a full-on colonoscopy.
For some reason, I’m tense. And sad. Well…I was already sad. But now, really tense too. It’s hard to focus on anything. I hope to get my writing done today, at least 500 words, but will at least make sure to get my pushup regimen done.
When fighting demons, you gotta stay in shape.
Trying
Fuck Yoda.
We all know his words of wisdom, right?
“Do or do not. There is no try.”
That’s all well and good if you’re a super-monk toad-midget with a glowy sword, living in an imaginary swamp, created by a man who’s getting closer by the minute to exhausting every good idea he’ll ever have. But in real life, sometimes trying is all we’ve got.
No one is perfect. Not all actions, no matter how resolutely performed, will be successful. The nature of the scientific method is all about trying, trying this and trying that, seeing what works, seeing what doesn’t. And life is pretty much the same.
You want to “Do or do not, there is no try?” Then only act on simple things, don’t aspire. Stay in your safety zone.
Trying is good. Trying is noble. If you try and fail, learn from it and keep going. That is wisdom.
My status on Facebook as I wrote this:
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Tim Byrd
is trying, in both senses of the word, but trying not to be trying, so it can be just the one sense from now on.
Under An Outlaw Moon 