http://moonpunter17.gather.com Recent Articles on Gather by Paul M. en-us Copyright Gather Inc 2009 Wed, 06 Jan 2010 10:45:53 GMT 2010-01-06T10:45:53Z en-us Copyright Gather Inc 2009 http://www.gather.com/images/header/logo_gather.gif http://www.gather.com/ http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977978303       The list price for my book at Amazon and B&N is $17.99 (or $0.99 for the Kindle version), which is generally in line with retail prices.  When I checked the Amazon . . . Tue, 05 Jan 2010 21:07:48 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977978303 Paul M. 2010-01-05T21:07:48Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977974577 I think the way to summarize the movies of 2009 is to say that if you like special effects and don't care about a good story then you were satisfied.  The big blockbusters of the year:  Transformers . . . Sun, 03 Jan 2010 21:18:04 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977974577 Paul M. 2010-01-03T21:18:04Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977974553 I'm going out on a limb and saying this will win for Best Picture of 2009.  Not necessarily that it IS the best picture of 2009, but because it's peaking at the right time (the end of the year) and . . . Sun, 03 Jan 2010 20:57:52 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977974553 Paul M. 2010-01-03T20:57:52Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977969611 I watched this in regular 2D, which might have been a mistake.  Without the 3D/IMAX gimmicks you're really left with a very vanilla sci-fi/fantasy movie.  That was in part why I wanted to watch . . . Thu, 31 Dec 2009 04:06:25 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977969611 Paul M. 2009-12-31T04:06:25Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977966364 I've never read any Sherlock Holmes books or watched any previous movies, so the most I had ever really encountered the detective was on Star Trek:  The Next Generation when the android Data played . . . Tue, 29 Dec 2009 01:58:56 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977966364 Paul M. 2009-12-29T01:58:56Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977960484 Since it's December 23 it's highly doubtful I'll buy anymore XMas music this season, though I did use the Borders gift card I got from Gather yesterday to purchase one, so you never know.  Anyway, . . . Wed, 23 Dec 2009 16:23:27 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977960484 Paul M. 2009-12-23T16:23:27Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977954008 You can now buy my book from Barnes & Noble online, as well as Amazon. Check it out here For a description and sample chapter, click here Sat, 19 Dec 2009 03:25:45 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977954008 Paul M. 2009-12-19T03:25:45Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977949876 Since it is the time of "best of" lists I've been doing a couple "best of" lists of my own.  (And let's face it, it's an easy way to pick up a few points for doing very little.)  Since it's . . . Wed, 16 Dec 2009 14:38:23 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977949876 Paul M. 2009-12-16T14:38:23Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977948143 You could easily say the 00s were the decade of the superhero movie.  There were a few before that with the original Superman and Batman franchises, but the 2000s saw a boom in the quantity and in . . . Tue, 15 Dec 2009 15:00:41 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977948143 Paul M. 2009-12-15T15:00:41Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977947022 Tis the season for Best-Of Lists, so here are a few best ofs according to me for 2009 and keep in mind these are only things I've seen or heard; for instance there's no sense telling me that "Precious" . . . Mon, 14 Dec 2009 21:54:46 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977947022 Paul M. 2009-12-14T21:54:46Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977946637 Here's a list of every song on the special XMas playlist I made on WinAmp.  It's just about every song I have, though I haven't transferred the 14 tracks from my Tori Amos album yet and a few others . . . Mon, 14 Dec 2009 17:25:58 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977946637 Paul M. 2009-12-14T17:25:58Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977946498 I think my initial problem here is that I read the book a couple of years ago, so I don't remember it extremely well.  I really need to go to the library and especially check out the ending.  . . . Mon, 14 Dec 2009 15:43:36 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977946498 Paul M. 2009-12-14T15:43:36Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977943114 OK, so being a part-time amateur writer, here are some gift ideas for the part-time, amateur writer (or full-time professional one) on your list.   Netbook :  You can buy laptops for . . . Fri, 11 Dec 2009 21:54:41 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977943114 Paul M. 2009-12-11T21:54:41Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977942706 If you're buying XMas music from Amazon, sometimes patience is a virtue.  The Boxmasters XMas album I bought last week for $8.91 is now on sale for $7.99.  Also, the Tori Amos XMas album priced . . . Fri, 11 Dec 2009 16:47:09 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977942706 Paul M. 2009-12-11T16:47:09Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977942619 You know what happens when you can't sleep?  You end up watching a crappy late-night movie like 1989's "Night Visitor."  Or an infomercial with Tom Bosley.  Actually the latter might be . . . Fri, 11 Dec 2009 15:57:30 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977942619 Paul M. 2009-12-11T15:57:30Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977940010 First off it's important to note that "Terminator Salvation" qualifies as what I'd call a midquel.  It's a sequel to some events of James Cameron's "The Terminator" and "Terminator 2:  Judgment . . . Thu, 10 Dec 2009 03:12:13 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977940010 Paul M. 2009-12-10T03:12:13Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977938917 Like "The Ice Harvest" that I watched previously, this is another film taking place during the holidays that is not a holiday film.  Instead it's a dark comedy/crime caper about two hitmen who flee . . . Wed, 09 Dec 2009 14:49:58 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977938917 Paul M. 2009-12-09T14:49:58Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977935089 It wasn't until 1999 when I bought my first album of XMas music, Jewel's "Joy" album.  Since then my collection has grown exponentially.  Every year I tell myself that I'm not going to buy more . . . Mon, 07 Dec 2009 14:23:58 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977935089 Paul M. 2009-12-07T14:23:58Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977931445 Nothing quite says the holiday like stealing $2 million from your boss and plotting to skip town with your best friend the local porn dealer.  Unlike heist movies like "Ocean's 11" the crime isn't . . . Fri, 04 Dec 2009 23:58:52 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977931445 Paul M. 2009-12-04T23:58:52Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977927225 I usually stay away from biopics because let's face it, they aren't REAL.  Sure they're based on real events, but they're always dramatized because let's face it, life doesn't package itself neatly . . . Wed, 02 Dec 2009 14:55:03 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977927225 Paul M. 2009-12-02T14:55:03Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977925384 Anyone familiar with Michael Gondry's work like "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" and "The Science of Sleep" knows he specializes in what could best be described as "quirky" movies.  Or if . . . Tue, 01 Dec 2009 14:24:39 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977925384 Paul M. 2009-12-01T14:24:39Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977922997 Over Thanksgiving weekend I watched a number of movies, so I'll catch up on these now by doing some quick reviews. # "Doubt" As a former Lutheran, I've never been a big fan of the Catholic church . . . Mon, 30 Nov 2009 03:22:18 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977922997 Paul M. 2009-11-30T03:22:18Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977922896 (Warning:  contains spoilers) Probably the biggest cliche ending for books, movies, and such are variations on "They Lived Happily Ever After" starting with the old Mother Goose stories.  . . . Mon, 30 Nov 2009 01:14:23 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977922896 Paul M. 2009-11-30T01:14:23Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977922667 And not the jungle river in South America or a group of women warriors but the website.  I pretty much did all my XMas shopping on Amazon.com this year.  Not because I'm lazy and didn't feel . . . Sun, 29 Nov 2009 20:58:35 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977922667 Paul M. 2009-11-29T20:58:35Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977918348 Those who are old enough to remember nights at the drive-in would probably remember the type of B-movie "Alien Trespass" aspires to be.  For the younger generation, it's like something you'd see . . . Thu, 26 Nov 2009 03:21:17 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977918348 Paul M. 2009-11-26T03:21:17Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977916196 Looking for something to give your friends, family, coworkers, pets this holiday season but don't want to regift them another Chia-Pet or fruitcake or Snuggie?  Don't feel like standing in line three . . . Tue, 24 Nov 2009 20:59:06 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977916196 Paul M. 2009-11-24T20:59:06Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977912678 Growing up, GI JOE was always my #2 favorite action figure (sometimes lower than that) behind Transformers.  I'm not sure how to explain that, except that Transformers were cool giant robots and . . . Sun, 22 Nov 2009 18:05:57 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977912678 Paul M. 2009-11-22T18:05:57Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977910378 Most movies, for instance "Transformers 2," are far too bloated and could use a good half-hour or more (in the case of "Transformers 2" much more) cut out.  It's rare that I actually think a movie . . . Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:43:39 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977910378 Paul M. 2009-11-20T16:43:39Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977906802 You know a thriller is a good thriller when you feel you should watch it twice to make sense of it all.  Such was the case for me with "State of Play."  The first time I watched it I wasn't . . . Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:56:02 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977906802 Paul M. 2009-11-18T16:56:02Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977906517 I was watching the movie "State of Play" this weekend, which features Jason Bateman in a supporting role.  Then I got thinking, hasn't he made one of the greatest comebacks in Hollywood history?  . . . Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:02:15 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977906517 Paul M. 2009-11-18T14:02:15Z