sokorra

The Constitution: Article Two (Part One)

Posted on February 8, 2017 by sokorra

Since its been awhile, here is the previous post in this series. Originally posted July 22,2016.

So as Article One created the Legislative Branch, Article Two creates the executive branch. Notably this branch contains the President and Vice President, but it also contains the cabinet and their departments as well as a few other smaller government offices.

Section One

This section sets up the Presidency. Who it is, how long he/she is in there, and how they are elected.

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book reviews, bookit, Star Wars

Bookit Review: Heir to the Empire

Posted on January 18, 2017January 18, 2017 by sokorra

Title: Heir to the Empire (Book 1 of the Thrawn Trilogy)
Author: Timothy Zahn
Publication Date: June 1992 (Paperback edition. Yep, went old school on this one)
Grade: B-

After watching Star Wars (all 8 movies) in late December and early January to celebrate Carrie Fisher, I decided that it was time to finally read that pile of Star Wars Novels that I had bought or have been given over the years but never got to. This starts with one of the apparently fan favorites of the EU (now Legends) Star Wars universe.

Heir of the Empire is the first in a trilogy of books taking place about 5 or so years after Endor. It starts with Leia and Luke having some emotional upheavals as Ben Kenobi says goodbye, and Leia deals with the fact that she is pregnant with twins and someone is out to kidnap her. Meanwhile Han is busy trying to build a level of trust between the Republic and smugglers it wants to make legitimate traders. There is also Political issues in the new republic as different fractions try to get power. So this book has aspects of a war novel, a political thriller and some Jedi lore.

The reason I started with this book was not only was it relatively close to the end of the movies, but it introduces Mara Jade, who is perhaps my favorite EU/Legends character. I still hope some reiteration of her appears in the new film Trilogy. It also introduces Talon Karrde who I’m finding more interesting than I expected.

The book itself took a bit to get into because it takes a moment to orient yourself in the universe. I’m used to reading tie-in novels that have some reference to the films either by being the novelization or movies that take place directly before/after or deal with events in the movie. However, once you figure out where everything is at, it’s a good book. I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

film, movie reviews, Uncategorized

Film Review: GhostBusters (2016)

Posted on January 12, 2017January 11, 2017 by sokorra

A long time ago, I believe I watched the original Ghostbusters film, but to be honest it has been so long ago that I barely remembered it. Going into watching this version of the story I was wondering if it was going to be a different verse, or a continuation or otherwise how it would relate to the original. The answer was its a whole different universe from the originals, but the actors who were in the original who were still living all make some brief appearances in the film.

I found it hilarious at times, and some random actors showed up that I wasn’t expecting like CHarles Dance (aka Tywin Lannister) and Ed Begley jr who plays another Ed Jr.. Chris Hemsworth’s Kevin was also a hilarious take on the dumb secretary trope. The cast as a whole was excellent, and the cameos of the original actors were interesting. The longest appearance was by Bill Murray who plays a critic of the ghostbusters who thinks they are making it all up.

For the most part I enjoyed it, though there were one or two times a joke went on too long, and the credits were over done a little. Also the theme music appeared more in the trailer then perhaps it did in the actual movie. The soundtrack in general was a little less then what I was expecting.

Considering one of the larger complains I heard prior to watching was that the cast was all female, I don’t think gender had an any effect on the quality of this film. The cast did an excellent job

So my grade for this movie is a B+. I’m definately planning on adding it to my collection at some point and I do hope that they get the sequel that they wanted.

movie reviews

Movie Review: Suicide Squad

Posted on January 11, 2017 by sokorra

So my friends and I got together last week and ended up watching two movies, Suicide Squad and Ghostbusters. I’ll be reviewing Ghostbusters in my next post. Obviously I’m late the reviewing of these two, having gotten them as rentals rather then seen in the theater, but they are new to me, so I figured it counted.

Suicide Squad is a DC Comics based film. The premise is that Amanda Walker puts together a band of villains to save the country. It both turns out well and very much not well at the same time. None of the villains are there by choice, but rather leverage Walker has. They barely tolerate one another. However they are bonded in their dislike of Walker and Flagg, the only non-villain on the team. However, when The Enchantress betrays Flagg and Walker, they find themselves on the same side. Of sorts.

I went into watching this film with no real comic book know how. My only prior exposure to Suicide Squad is through Smallville which had Flagg, Deadshot and that’s pretty much it as far as characters that appear in this movie. Completely different as well from what appeared in this movie. I was also somewhat familar with Harley Quinn just from having a bunch of comic book fans as best friends.

Overall the movie was alright, although I suspect it is better if you are a comic book fan and have the sentimentality towards various characters. The only real issue I had was the abundance of the Joker who basic plot had no real need to be in the movie. And he’s probably my least favorite version of the character. I saw why they had him in there, in Harley’s backstory, but his continual presence seemed like they had actual footage so why not use it rather than something necessary.

Some of the CGI seemed a little awkward at parts yet great in others.

I’m going to give this film a B-. Talented cast, but more of a film if you actually had a interest in DC comics before this.

film, Star Wars

Movie Review: Rogue One

Posted on January 4, 2017January 3, 2017 by sokorra

So shortly before New Years, I decided to venture alone to the movie theater to take in Rogue One, afraid it would disappear from the local theater if I waited much longer (apparently its scheduled for a few weeks so I was not in any danger of missing it). I don’t usually like going to the movies by myself, preferring to have the company of friends to discuss the movie afterwards. But none of that has to do with this review.

Rogue One was good. It did as it said and was a single entity film, there were no openings for a sequel, as it ends almost exactly where A New Hope Begins. While a few of the characters from the main episodes appear, the main plot had nothing to do with them. Even Vader stays mostly out-of-the-way. (although there is a scene where we see Vader’s house. It made me laugh, although I don’t think that was the intent.)

Rogue One continues Star War’s tradition of women getting things done. In this case its Jyn Erso, a woman who had her parents taken from her as a young girl by the Empire. Her mother was killed, her father was an engineer they needed. However she goes on a mission to help the Rebellion, mostly to try to find her father who she has not seen in 15 years. She is joined by an odd group of rebels, including a new Droid I wish we could see more of .

While I feel at times the pace of the story was a bit quick, the editing was good and the writing was also good. It also included archive footage from scenes filmed but cut from A New Hope to add to the film, which were remarkably well-integrated into the film.

Also we get to see some of the characters we love from the Prequels and the Original Trilogy interacting. Jimmy Smits for example returns for a few scenes as Leia’s adoptive father Bail Organa. And we also see Mon Mothma Pre-ROTJ trying to get everyone in a room to talk plans and wishing she had some Advil.

I will say this: This does not have a happy ending, so be prepared. It does have one of my favorite end scenes a few minutes before the actual ending of the movie. It was beautifully edited and filmed.

I will also say this: I was happy to see the romance played down in this. It is clear that there is something there for those who want to find something, but these people are in the middle of a battle and the “romance” doesn’t get in the way of that. It’s all very subtle and can be easily pushed aside if you don’t care for romance plots. I was afraid going in that they would be pushing some sort of romance, diminishing from what the main characters were doing because they got distracted with said romance.

Final Grade: A

Uncategorized

In Memoriam: Debbie Reynolds

Posted on January 2, 2017January 1, 2017 by sokorra

Debbie Reynolds is one of the actresses that always seemed to be there. On one hand I knew her as Carrie Fisher’s mom, but I also knew her as a classic film actress. I haven’t seen too many of her films, but her name being on the list was always a point in the favor of the film for me.

Besides the films, a friend and I had been writing various stories together and had come up with this character named Mama Todd. Debbie Reynolds was our face for the character.

My favorite Debbie Reynolds movie was a bio-pic called ‘The Unsinkable Molly Brown’, where she played the titular character. Molly Brown is most known for surviving the Titanic. Its actually one of my favorite classic films.

The Trailer:

Another favorite,and probably more well known, is of course Singin’ in the Rain where she plays Kathy, a singer who plays the voice of an actress when the movie is slated to become a talkie rather than a silent.

Of course the most known scene:

Another movie I recently saw of hers that I found hilarious was These Old Broads, and worth it for this scene:

general

Happy New Year

Posted on January 1, 2017January 1, 2017 by sokorra

new-years-day-1927663_640 — Source: Pixalbay

So we have moved past the difficult year that is 2016. A general sentiment is it was just a bad year, between divided elections, several terrorist attacks, an uptick in reported hate, and people being generally unpleasant about politics. There was also so many legends who died this year (and I’ll be doing a memorial post on Debbie Reynolds in the coming days).

Needless to say, many are glad we are at a new year. It feels like a fresh start. It even starts on the first day of the week so its a new year, new week, and new month. Everything is new and maybe 2017 will be a more hopeful year. Where in our focus will turn to the uplifting stories, and people who have been disappointing us this past year will somehow turn out to impress us by living above our expectations.

On a personal level, I’m hoping to bring my life under control. I want to be able to start saving, as well as deal with some ongoing health issues. I want to have a clean space that is not cluttered, I want to be able to more of the fun stuff I love to do. I want to start making progress with the things I used to love before anxiety took over my life.

The good things about 2016 were that my health improved on the anxiety issue, I got a new job which had a pay increase, and I welcomed a nephew into my life. I’m going to try and focus on those things then the not so good things that seemed to overfill 2016s borders.

I’m going to make 2017 the year I look at the bright side of things. Both in myself and in world events.

As for this blog, I have a few things planned. First is the schedule of posts as I discussed in December. I’m hoping to post at least every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. In the next couple of weeks you should see some of the following:

Debbie Reynolds Memorial post
Continuation of the Constitution series
Bookit 2017 Starter post (and reviews!)
Review of Rogue One
Writing exercises and updates of the progress in writing my original novel

Here’s looking forward to a happy and uplifting 2017!

celebrity news, Star Wars

In memoriam: Carrie Fisher

Posted on December 27, 2016 by sokorra

I kept hoping for better news this week, but today Billie Lourd, Carrie Fisher’s daughter confirmed her mother had passed away after a heart attack on Friday.

Carrie has been a big part of my childhood as Princess Leia, and she always impressed me with her ability to use humor to deal with things others would let bog them down. She had issues, but made sure to use her platform as a media spotlighted person to bring awareness so others could be helped.

Carrie grew up in the spotlight, the daughter of actors Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fisher. But it didn’t really put her to the forefront till she became Princess Leia at 21. It is that role she will probably be the most remembered for. She played the role for 40 years. She also was in the movie When Harry met Sally as Sally’s best friend who finally finds love with Harry’s best friend.

She wrote many autobiographical books as well as pushed for awareness of mental illness.

Farwell, Princess. Thank you for the years of laughter, and activism and the movies that will live on. My thoughts go out to your family and friends.

book reviews, bookit

Bookit Review: Mr Darcy’s Mail-Order Bride

Posted on December 24, 2016December 23, 2016 by sokorra

Title: Mr. Darcy’s Mail-Order Bride
Author: J. Dawn King
Publication: November 24, 2016 (Kindle/Kindle Unlimited edition)
Grade: C

This variation novel was alright. I didn’t want to throw it out the window. It just wasn’t something that made me want to ignore the clock and keep reading. In this particular variation, Darcy and Bingley have become landowners in Oregon, seeking wives from the east due to a lack of possible wives in the West. Darcy writes the letters for Bingley to Jane, the niece of an acquaintance of theirs, Mr. Gardner. Elizabeth responds for Jane, and the two fall in love through the letters, not realising that they weren’t speaking with the real Jane/Bingley. Thus awkwardness when the two arrive to be married (Darcy deciding at last minute to marry the sister).

This reads almost like vengeance fanfic. Like Ms. King wanted to see characters she thought less of punished in some way. Caroline is pretty much out of the picture right away, and Lydia barely spends any time before whisking away with Wickham (who keeps getting fired, and barely talks to Elizabeth). Meanwhile Elizabeth and Jane remain the optimum examples of virtue and good nature.

So in a sense, it was like all the characters were more pushed towards the good/bad guy roles then they were in the original. Poor Denny, the first-nameless soldier who makes the unfortunate decision to be friends with Wickham in the original book, now has become Wickham’s second hand man, possibly starting a fire at Bingley’s ranch. Mr. Bennet turns out to just sit in his study and do nothing while his remaining children run close to starving. I must admit this is the first time where I’ve read a book and fault for the awkward marriage between the elder Bennets is placed on Mr. Bennet instead of just assuming he was dealing with a nutsy wife.

Although I did find the implication of Lydia/Colonel Fitzwilliam (who in this novel isn’t a colonel but crime lawyer) an intriguing idea.

Its an alright novel if you can’t get enough of Jane Austen variations, but nothing I’d put on my “read again later” list.

book reviews, bookit

Bookit Review: The Promise Kitchen

Posted on December 23, 2016December 20, 2016 by sokorra

Title: The Promise Kitchen
Author: Peggy Lampman
Publication: August 16, 2016/June 25, 2015 (Kindle Edition/Kindle Unlimited Edition)
Grade: B

With The Promise Kitchen I spent half the book wondering what I thought of it. It kept changing on me. It starts off strange with the one POV character (Shelby) and her mother trying to save money by burying two people in the same urn. Which was not what I expected when I saw this on the “Recommend for you” scroll on my Kindle. Still, I decided to continue to read it. AFter all, I’m sure there was a point to why this scene was included.

The story is about two women named Shelby and Mallory and how their lives change drastically over a year. Shelby is a single mother of a daughter and lives with her mother, daughter and a Jackalope in a poorer community in lower Georgia. Mallory comes from more affluent background, and lives as a food reporter in Atlanta. They both start out the year with a big change.

Shelby gets a job at Grassos, an Atlanta based grocery chain that offers to pay for culinary school. This is a step in the direction she wants to go to provide her daughter with a better life, but it does mean leaving her daughter for weeks at a time when she works in Atlanta (there is a 3 hour drive between Atlanta and home).

Mallory on the other hand, is having job issues of her own as her newspaper folds and decides to become a digital only company. She barely retains her job in the transfer and has to double her job description while getting a pay cut. And the man she believes to be the love of her life randomly left her.

Throughout the book the two women’s life criss cross without really meeting till halfway through the book when they are involved in a car accident. Then both of their lives change quite a bit. Mallory ends up going on a tailspin that wakes her up to ongoing problems, while Shelby seemingly loses everything

Its better than I can summarize, and surprisingly, there was a point to the first scene, if its only brought up again at the very end. The only issues I had with the book were the quick time changes where weeks would go by. Clearly this has to happen to get through a year but at times it seemed a little confusing as to what had happened.

The summary on the back is a little misleading, as I kept thinking the two women’s lives would be more integrated. I did enjoy it. From what I was reading, this is Peggy Lampman’s first novel, and I’ll be interested in seeing what else she may write. For now it seems like she is primarily focused on her food blog.

It was also originally published with the title Simmer and Smoke and contains several recipes at the end.