7 Things: The Labyrinth Edition

I know David Bowie is know for many things.  But even though I didn't see "Labyrinth" until I was a teen and some kids I babysat for insisted I watch it when they discovered I had this pop culture gap, I adore it.  And, so, on hearing of Mr. Bowie's passing, I watched it again last night and remembered so many things I love about this story.  So, seven things from this movie.

1. Even Goblin Kings have trouble getting babies to stop crying.
2. Sometimes how you ask is as important as what you ask.
3. The way forward is sometimes the way back.
4. Things are not always as they seem. (Nor are they always fair.)
5. People will often try to distract you from your goals. They may even be false alarms, which mean you are on the right track.
6. The journey is better with friends.  Even if you don't need them for any reason. ("Should you need us, for any reason at all...")
7. "My will is as strong as yours and my kingdom as great. You have no power over me."

Gone Astray

Recently I ordered some things from a website.  (If we understand that by recently we mean in this particular incident, because the nice lady with the key to the package room in my building doesn't even ask my apartment number anymore.) It came in two large envelopes.  I know this now, because I got a call from an unfamiliar number telling me a package had arrived for me at my building.  The neighbor, whose apartment shares two of the four indicators in my apartment number (so, closeish), had received the package. Had opened the package.  (It's not clear to me if the opening was to determine more info about me, because apparently the receipt contained my phone number, or that was the point at which she realized, oh, I did not order knitting needles.  I'm not concerned either way. Spoiler, I have all my things now.)  As a result of the call, we arranged for a time for me to come to her apartment and pick up my things.  Now, she did mention that she was already in her robe, if I didn't mind, which I mention, not because I minded, but because that may have influenced for choice of resolution.  Because to me, playing phone tag, when my apartment number was clearly displayed on the package, seemed a little like more work.  But as I was pondering this, going through choices, ranging from hand delivering package to my door, giving the package to the residential office to redistribute, talking to our mail carrier, I remembered two things.  The person with the thing, gets to decide the solution that works best for them.  And this is what's fascinating about the world.  That we all have very different approaches to resolving the same things.  Often the rules, at school, or work, or, in law for that matter, tread a tricky balance of trying to create the most consistent results, but not stifling the many routes we all use to get to solutions. 

Three Interesting Things

1. Patrick Ness, whose latest book, I finally read and enjoyed, talks here about both the book and the fundraiser for refugees.

2. NPR has a discussion of why Gene Luen Yang's selection as literary ambassador is so great. 

3. I cannot explain my joy in watching Kathie Lee topple a supposedly un-tippable travel mug.  Except to say it is large.  (Link contains video.)

Pitch Slapped

Just a note that it did not escape my notice that the latest in the a cappella reality shows started last night.  I found it...really highly packaged, and while I'm in it for the eight weeks of competition we will get to see, I may leave the recapping to folks like this nice person over at EW - http://www.ew.com/article/2016/01/05/pitch-slapped-lifetime-premiere-recap. 

7 Things About "Star Wars: The Force Awakens"

I am not going to get super spoilery, but I am going to discuss the movie and so...there will be thoughts about the movie.

1. The cast is amazing, both the faces you will see and the ones you won't.

2. In many ways, it hits a lot of beats that the original "Star Wars" does.  Some of the podcasts I've been listening to, talked about how George Lucas was buddies with Joseph Campbell, so this story that pretty much hits all the beats in Campbell's heroes journey is not accidental.

3. All of this is to say, it's great source material.  And I think it does some important things.  It says, hey, there, longtime Star Wars fan, it's cool.  We get it.  We're back on track now.

4. It says, hey there, new fan who has never watched these things, we'll catch you up on what you need to know.  We got you. 

5. And it says, here's how you take the backbone of a story many people know, and make it similar, but not.  What there was a, oh wait, I said no spoilers. 

6. I saw this with a friend at the Air and Space Museum's IMAX theater, which is sort of a joy.  I also figured the people who would choose to see this movie at the Air and Space museum would be excited fans.  I think the vibe of a theater audience can be important, and it always helps to be surrounded by people determined to have a great time.  (Unless you hate it.  Then it's hard.)

7. You can say diversity is fan service.  (I would argue it makes just as much sense as a rebel fighter pilot with a Scottish accent.) But seeing more females (I resent the implication that Leia wasn't there all along.) More visible people of color.  (And yes, I have not forgotten Lando Calrissian.) It is good stuff.