Film Lives and Garden Lives

Let's say there's a person named "John Doe" who has a garden in his backyard. He's interested in tending that garden, and that makes him happy. Let's say John lives a "garden" life. Let's say there's another person named "George Lucas" who is interested in making films, and making films makes him happy. Let's say George lives a "film" life.

John could write a book (or books) about his garden including its various fruits, vegetables, flowers, animals, and insects throughout the many past seasons and years, etc. George could write a book (or books) about his films including his inspiration, ideas, writing process, casting, production, directing, etc. John has family and friends who are interested in his garden, but not many people other than them are interested in his garden. George has family and friends who are interested in his films, and very many people other than them are interested in his films.

John's garden life represents a person's life that is interesting among that person's friends and family. George's film life represents a person's life that is interesting to more than that person's friends and family. George's father lived a garden life; he ran a store. He wanted George to do the same thing when George grew up. But George didn't want a garden life. He wanted a film life. A garden life is the right kind of life for some people, and a film life is the right kind of life for some people. One isn't necessarily better than the other. Also, I believe people can transition from garden life to film life and vice versa. Most people live garden lives. I want to live a film life.

Urban Prominence

I wondered about people's perceptions of cities after I heard my mother call Washington, D.C. a "big city" and after I heard a friend of mine describe Chicago as "huge". I was reading about topographic prominence and realized cities have prominence in people's perceptions of them ("metropolitan prominence", "urban prominence", or whatever you want to call it). In other words, the importance of a city is perceived relative to the towns and cities around it. For example, people say Atlanta is a big city. Atlanta is the largest, most influential city for over 500 miles in any direction (I'd say Washington, D.C. is the closest city with greater prominence). Atlanta is the unofficial capital of the South. Imagine if a city much larger and more influential than Atlanta were located within a few miles of Atlanta. The prominence of that other city would overshadow Atlanta's prominence. My recent move from a big city to a small city makes me think about such things.

New York to Florida

After living in New York, New York for a little over a year, I moved back to Florida. Now I'm temporarily living with my parents while searching for work.

Election Day

Ladies and gentlemen, this is the moment you've all been waiting for (maybe not all of you but some of you). This was it. Today was the day. As you probably already know, McCain lost, and Obama won.

One Week

A week from today is Election Day. Many people have waited a long time for this. The campaigns began over a year and a half ago. Senator Obama's campaign began in February 2007. Senator McCain's campaign began in April 2007. So much comes down to that day a week from now. What will happen? Who will win? Time will tell.

Home Stretch

Today is October 4th. Election Day is a month away, on November 4th. This is the home stretch. Campaigns that started over a year ago have only one month left. I wonder who will win and look forward to Election Day.

Biden and Palin

Obama chose Biden and McCain chose Palin.  McCain's choice shook things up a little bit more than Obama's.  Apparently history will be made whoever is elected.  The conventions have come and gone.  Debates are coming up, as is Election Day.