This and that and the other thing..

1. Watching S3 of Kominsky Method on Netflix - which has Kathleen Turner, Paul Reiser, and Michael Douglas in major roles.

Turner has gained a lot of weight and is almost unrecognizable (except for her voice and eyes. It's weirdly disconcerting, and reassuring at the same time. Same with Reiser.

It's not as funny as the first two seasons. I really miss Carl Reiser.

2. A Close Reading of the Best Opening Paragraph of All Time

It's from Shirley Jackson's "We've Always Lived in the Castle".

My name is Mary Katherine Blackwood. I am eighteen years old, and I live with my sister Constance. I have often thought that with any luck at all I could have been born a werewolf, because the two middle fingers on both my hands are the same length, but I have had to be content with what I had. I dislike washing myself, and dogs, and noise. I like my sister Constance, and Richard Plantagenet, and Amanita phalloides, the death-cup mushroom. Everyone else in my family is dead.

"It almost seems like overkill to explain why this paragraph is so wonderful. It either strikes you or it doesn’t. You must have a certain sensibility to truly appreciate its charms. The rhythm is key. But let’s make an attempt, shall we?" - Emily Temple

Well, it isn't if - people don't happen to agree with you. I don't. I've read better opening paragraphs. Actually Haunting of Hill House had a better opening paragraph. As did Charles Dickens, Tale of Two Cities, or various other works. There's a lot to choose from. So all of this is terribly subjective. And no, I don't hear the rhythm in the paragraph. It's not working for me.

Is it just me or are English Lit Professors and Majors incredibly opinionated about literature and writing? Probably comes from spending all your time doing nothing but analyzing it. It wasn't written to be analyzed to death, it was written to be enjoyed. And we don't tend to enjoy the same books - sometimes we do, most times, we don't. Makes it hard to rec stuff to folks. I'm moody, I might love a book one year, and hate it the next.

3. My Stay at a Devon Rewilding Farm - Wildlife Holiday - in England of all places..

I don't tend to think of England or rather Great Britain as being a spot to enjoy "wildlife". It's kind over-developed and has been for about 100 or so years. I'm not sure there's any land on it that hasn't housed humans at some point.

But...this is the kind of camping I can get behind..

Guests can stay in five new huts, all spaced for privacy across two fields, plus a spruced-up old Gypsy caravan. Each hut sleeps two, and a hot shower and composting toilet are shared by three huts. There’s also a camping field with four pitches. In an open-sided barn is a communal area with pizza ovens, a charging point for phones and cameras, wood-fired barbecues, sofas and board games. The tranquillity is ensured by a no-under-10s and no-dogs policy.

4. I was thinking about this after reading a social media friend's post the other night.

A. Being mindful of writing about folks who aren't white, cis-gendered, and heterosexual. I tend to be fairly good at it - for the most part. But it does make me self-conscious. Actually the internet has made me self-conscious over the years - and hesitant to share my "creative" writing. I know it's odd - I have no problems blogging or sharing meta, but I worry about sharing original creative work. Maybe because I care more? I don't know.

While I do think it is important to be critical of art and how it depicts folks, at the same time - I think it is important to be mindful of shutting it down or censoring it. There's a fine line between constructive criticism and cancelling the art or censure. Yet, at the same time - if the art in question crosses a line and actively "promotes" abuse or injury to a group of people or individuals - than yes, it should be called out, and potentially censured. I.e the line between hate speech and free expression.
It's difficult at times to know when to censure and when to constructively critique.
( musing on critiquing problematic works of art vs. censuring them completely )

B. The other bit that I've pondered since reading that post is whether I should post a warning or meme regarding my own socio-political views. And whether anyone really wants to know them. I admittedly discovered in 2003 that a lot of folks I'd friended on fan boards had problematic political views. I discovered it on LJ. Although I kind of figured it out for a few prior to that. Politics is problematic - particularly with how divisive we've currently become.

I can't imagine anyone whose been reading this journal for any length of time - doesn't already know mine. I've not exactly been quiet about it.
My co-workers know, people at church kind of know, I'm very open about that sort of thing - for the most part or have been recently at any rate.

I'd do a meme, but it's late and I want to go to bed.