Full House — 20 Years Later

On By R. PettyIn TV ShowsLeave a comment

When I told a couple of friends I was going to review Full House, their jaws dropped. For those who don’t know me, I don’t look (or act) like I would enjoy the sitcom. I have a reputation for being no BS, sarcastic, and tough. Full House is none of those things, so why in the world would someone like me review this show?

Twenty years ago, little Raven laid on her bed and watched back-to-back episodes every afternoon. This week, 30-year-old Raven laid on her couch with her son to watch back-to-back episodes. Not much has changed…

I was thrilled to see Full House come back, and I knew while watching an episode this week, the show was post worthy. So, here’s what’s changed and what hasn’t in 20 years.

Changes

I appreciate the show. I never thought I would want a clean, feel good, very cheesy show to chill to after a day at the office. It’s now cool and funny to be sarcastic and mean, so it’s nice to step into an alternate universe of feel-good family goodness – where people are not glued to their portable devices.

It’s outdated in many ways. It was 20 years ago before technology ruled the world, Harleys and car knowledge was a guy thing, and women wore shoulder pads in everything.

The cast. Other than John Stamos, has anyone seen the rest of the cast? For the most part, the cast is long gone with families (and problems) of their own.

I get it. As an adult, I understand all the jokes and appreciate the non-traditional household that was healthy and supportive. A dad, brother-in-law, and best friend raise three girls. Not only did they raise them, but you knew everything would be okay. And for the most part, it always is. Hope is a powerful thing.

What Remains the Same

John Stamos is still hot. He was the heart-throb of Full House and has aged well. You may remember him from ER and Glee.

Stephanie is still annoying. Her character was nosy and whiny – everything a little sibling is – but she still irritates me, and my son agrees.

There’s always a lesson. D.J. got a job to pay for her own phone line. Stephanie owned up to driving a car through the kitchen. Michelle replaced the classroom bird she accidentally let fly out a window. The show taught kids to own their mistakes and fix them, and honesty is always the best policy.

It’s still cheesy. It was the early 90s, so being raised during the grunge music era and loving movies like Reservoir Dogs and Clueless, it was not cool to like Full House. The jokes are predictable, there are catch phrases, the mushy moments are overly dramatic, and it’s a little unrealistic. But who needs realism? Life has more than enough of it.

It’s still fun. I watched fours hours of Full House this week and enjoyed every minute. It’s not complicated, well written, and great for all ages. I heard Bobby Brown’s My Prerogative on an episode and was nostalgic for 90s dance music and R&B. I knew every word, too.

Full House, like The Cosby Show and Fresh Prince, will live on for a long, long time. I feel like a “real” adult when I say they just don’t make shows like they used to. I look forward to watching more and hearing from you. What old show you would like to see again? Share in the comments below!

Off the Charts: Karl’s Travel Diary for Idiot Abroad Series 1

On By James CastroIn Opinions, Projects, Random Fun, ReviewsLeave a comment

Off The Charts Header

In the last post I discussed Idiot Abroad Series 1 where Karl visits the seven wonders of the world.  In addition to the documentary that was made, Karl also kept a travel diary, logging his thoughts and experiences.  I found a UK edition on Amazon and picked it up after watching the show.  It’s a great addition to what’s seen during the series..

Karl started keeping a diary when he visited Gran Canaria years ago.  Passages of it were read on The Ricky Gervais XFM radio show and were absolutely some of my favorite moments from the podcasts.  This diary is different as it is more observations of a trip rather than observations of everyday life.

Much of what is said in the diary is said in voice over or interview on the show, but there were some real surprises.

Idiot Abroad Travel Diary

The first surprise was the episodes weren’t shown in the order they were filmed.  The diary starts with Karl getting his shots before travel and heading…to Egypt.  Those of us who watched the show on TV or on DVD were probably expecting China to be first as it’s the first episode shown.  He then goes to Brazil, India, Mexico, China, Jordan, and finally ending with Peru, just about the only episode shown in the order it was produced.  I’m not sure why they were shown out of order, but seeing the journey from beginning to in from Karl’s personal perspective provides a better view of his travels.

There were also sections Karl mentions in his diary that do not appear in the show or in the deleted scenes.  One was Karl learning to drive a rickshaw in India.   Anyone who knows how much Karl likes bikes would have known how well he’d do that but he was told he drove too fast by the instructor.  Another memorable incident is the dog farm he visited in China.  Dogs are raised for food and sold for that purpose.  Karl raises the concept that cows and chickens are raised for food and it doesn’t seem so different.  He found it more strange that the owner of the farm had a dog as a pet that he would never cook and eat.

Other items were expansions on things we did see in the show, but provided a better glimpse at Karl and his personality.  One moment, that was actually rather touching, was Karl’s interactions with Ashek, the rickshaw driver and restauranteur in India.  In the show it appeared as Karl didn’t want to stay with Ashek in the back of his shop and jumped at the chance to stay at a nicer place owned by Ashek’s friend when it was offered.  In the book (which contains a number of transcriptions of recorded conversations Karl had, including interactions with locals and phone calls from Steve and Ricky) you see Karl’s compassion for Ashek.  Ashek was ill, barely showed up to meet the Idiot Abroad team, and yet still worked both his jobs.  Instead of Karl immediately leaving Ashek’s crowded one-room home as shown in the program, Karl initially offers Ashek the nicer house.  He tells him, “How about this: I leave you to have a nice night’s sleep?  You’ve been working hard all day.  Why don’t you stay at your friend’s house, and we’ll stay here…I want you to have a bit of goodness in your life.”  Ashek, true to his customary hospitality and courtesy, refuses repeatedly and they eventually go to the nicer residence.

The diary, to me, only works as a companion to the show.  It might make sense and be a fun read for those who haven’t seen the show, but in my perspective some of the fun is left out if you can’t picture where Karl is and what he’s doing.  It does provide a much better view of the entire show, and is a terrific addition for fans, not only for what it adds to what’s on screen, but to what it adds to what fans may know of Karl’s personality.  It’s also a VERY quick read and well laid out.  The beginning of each “wonder’s” chapter has a famous quote from a philosopher, historian, or explorer about the wonder juxtaposed with one of Karl’s making for a great intro to each locale.

I’ve seen and enjoyed the second season of Idiot Abroad and Karl kept a diary for that trip too.  I know, having enjoyed this one, I’ll definitely get that one too.

If you were unfamiliar with the weird world of Karl Pilkington I hope this was a decent introduction.  It’s a consistently funny, sometimes enlightening, frequently confusing, and always entertaining place to visit!

Karl, Steve, and Ricky

Writing for Web: 8 Tips on Criticism

On By R. PettyIn Writing for Web and Tips4 Comments

Let’s be honest, no one likes criticism. No one enjoys pouring their heart and energy into something to hear that it isn’t perfect. But criticism is important.

“Criticism may not be agreeable, but it is necessary. It fulfills the same function as pain in the human body. It calls attention to an unhealthy state of things.” — Winston Churchill

This week’s discussion is about workshops and critiques (Chapter 13), and although you may wince at the idea of someone ripping your work to shreds, it’s for the greater good.

As a proofreader, I am paid to point out mistakes. I spend 80 percent of my day telling people to change things, and I can be pretty tough. Proofreaders and editors have a special skill set for finding problems and fixing them. We don’t like our work criticized either, but it’s just part of the process. Have you ever seen a proofreader find out they missed something? It’s not pretty.

How do you not let it drag out down? Here are my top 8 tips for receiving feedback – negative or positive – and how it makes you a better writer.

1. Don’t take it personally. I cannot stress how important, and often difficult, it is to do this. Your critiques and comments do not reflect you as a person, nor do they mean your readers don’t like you. It’s not about you; it’s about your story and how you present it. It stings and can make you upset, but deal with it at the right time.

2. Encourage yourself and others. Give yourself a pep talk now and then. This will help you focus on the good aspects of your writing and reignite excitement. Give others the same treatment. For every bad comment, try to find a good one.

3. Choose wisely. Keep in mind what you get depends on who you give it to. Your mom may be more forgiving and kind than your best friend. Your best friend may not be as honest as a coworker or colleague. If you know someone is tough, be prepared.

4. Ask for specifics. When you want someone else to read your work, give them a list of things to look for while reading. You can also give them a rating scale or anonymous survey that only you see. Doing so will keep you organized and help the reviewer stay focused.

5. Own it. Admit your problems and mistakes, and fix them (see number 1). Also, if you tell your reviewer/editor to “rip it apart”, you better mean it. I have butchered dozens of papers and manuscripts and will always do so. A little secret: I do the same to my own.

6. Discuss, don’t argue. No one likes to fight, so discuss problems and questions calmly and rationally. Don’t get defensive (again see number 1), and hear the person out. Once you have time to take it all in, then make your decision about the changes.

7. Take a break. Once you receive changes and feedback, take a break for a few days. Don’t immediately jump in and start changing everything. You may not always agree with the changes, and the final decision is always yours.

8. Walk away. Once you have gone through the process, made your changes, and read the project in its entirety, it’s done. Now is the time to post it or submit it, and don’t look back. You’ll know when it’s time, and you will finally have closure.

Feedback and criticism are tough, but you are not alone. Everyone receives it all the time. The most important thing to remember is it is in your best interest to at least listen and seriously consider the reviewers’ points. They want to help you, and you picked them for a reason.

Cartoon Raven with red pen and paper

We’d like to hear from you! Have you ever received feedback that upset you? What did you do?

Off the Charts: An Idiot Abroad Series 1

On By James CastroIn Opinions, Projects, Reviews1 Comment

Off The Charts Header

As I mentioned in my last post, a friend at work suggested this show to me after finding out I enjoyed the show River Monsters.  I resisted it at first base solely on the title.  I couldn’t imagine a worse program, but I was picturing “idiots” on the level of the reality TV celebrities that appear on the covers of magazines at the grocery store.  I also don’t watch too much TV so to start a new show was one of those, “how will I work this into the schedule” prospects.  I saw part of a marathon on a Sunday several weeks ago and found it to be one of the funniest TV shows I’ve seen in ages.

The premise is simple, Ricky Gervais and Steve Merchant send Karl Pilkington around the world to see the seven wonders of the world.  Karl, as I mentioned in my last post is an individual with a simple and unique perspective on things.  He’s never cruel or judgmental, he just often expresses his naive or simplistic opinions in as blunt a manner possible.  Ricky wanted to torture Karl for fun, as he claims it’s the most expensive practical joke he’s ever played; Steven wanted to broaden Karl’s perspective.  Karl was just kind of along for the ride.

There are only eight episodes, and each one is full of terrific moments of Karl exploring foreign countries and cultures.  The best aspect of each show are Karl’s opinions and his narration where he breaks down complex social customs in the most simplistic way possible.  Often lost, hungry, obsessed with finding familiarity (especially in toilets), and out-of-his-depth, Karl is sent on various expeditions and takes part in numerous surprise activities assigned to him by Ricky and Steven via phone or text.  Here are my favorite moments in Series 1:

Episode 1: The Great Wall of China (China)

  • Karl experiences the street food vendors in China and witnesses scorpions, geckos, and toads for food.  Possibly my favorite moment is when he realizes his driver is eating an egg with a fetus in it!
  • Karl does some Kung Fu training with the Shaolin Monks, including watching his instructor throw a needle through a pane of glass (Karl hits the cameraman on his go…)
  • Karl’s description of the Great Wall as “the Alright Wall of China.”

Episode 2: The Taj Mahal (India)

  • Karl goes to the Kumbh Mela festival to see the various babas present.  He describes one as looking like Jim Morrison.  And is shocked at the somewhat horrifying abilities of Elephant Baba’s friend…and his walking stick…
  • In one of the most endearing moments of the series, Karl spends time with a swamiji.  He actually enjoys the experience and just describes him as a “good bloke” rather than any kind of mystical power.  And he seemed to be.
  • Karl thinks the Taj Mahal was built by  a guilty husband.  He claims if he built his girlfriend, Suzanne, something like that she’d say, “What’s been going on?!”

Episode 3: Petra (Jordan)

  • Karl goes through military training to learn what to do if he’s kidnapped.
  • Karl visits Christ’s birthplace but finds the nearby border wall between Palestine and Israel more impactful as it effects the people living on either side every day.
  • Karl proves his belief that “it is better to live in a hole and look at a palace than to live in a palace and look at the hole” by spending the night in a cave across from the treasury at Petra; an experience he truly enjoyed!

Episode 4: Chichen Itza (Mexico)

  • Karl does some Mexican wrestling with “The Shocker!”
  • Eating wasp larvae with Mayans and trading some Monster Munch “crisps” with some of the villagers (which they seemed to enjoy)
  • Dancing to British New Wave music and feeding a large lizard hobnobs at Chichen Itza.

Episode 5: The Great Pyramids (Egypt)

  • Belly dancing on his Nile Cruise!
  • Karl’s comment on a nice apartment near a call to prayer speaker was that the real estate agent only takes people to see the property when the call to prayer isn’t blaring.  Another moment where his simple opinion is likely 100% correct!
  • Karl description of the great pyramid as a “game of Jenga that’s got out of hand.”

Episode 6: Christ the Redeemer (Brazil)

  • Karl dances in a samba line during Rio Carnival!
  • Karl’s tour of Rio with local man, Celso.
  • Karl sees the Christ the Redeemer statue by helicopter.  He is more excited about having ridden in a helicopter than seeing the “wonder.”  In his words he “enjoyed riding in the helicopter…and the Jesus thing was alright as well.”

Episode 7: Machu Picchu (Peru)

  • Karl camps in the woods with his own home-made toilet (a camping chair with a hole cut into it).
  • Karl stays with a tribe that used to be cannibals and attempts to teach them Connect 4 (he thinks they don’t understand it because they never count higher than three in primitive tribes)
  • Karl describes Machu Picchu as “magnificent”…in an effort to not have to walk any further around it and just end the show with a long shot from the point they had reached.  When he saw the first buildings of the complex he remarks in a desire to stop before reaching the top, “It’s not like I’m looking for a house here.  I’m not saying ‘just like this but with more outside space…'”

Episode 8: Karl Comes Home

  • Karl reveals his secret word in case he got kidnapped in Israel was “Congress tart.”
  • Karl’s scenario where he gets a free night of chicken from NOT having plans and just “going with it.”
  • In one of the funniest moments of the series the clip is played (from when Karl was in Peru) where Ricky reveals they changed the name of the program from Karl Pilkington’s Seven Wonders to An Idiot Abroad.  Karl’s reaction is priceless.

Next time I’ll take a look at Karl’s travel diary.  I read it in only a couple days and it shed extra light on some of the events shown in the show, and and extra insight into the inner-workings of Karl’s mind.

This whole video is good as he talks about tribal customs and invisible fish but the discussion of the name change starts at 4:18 and as always beware the language.

Story of the Month Debut: Wrong Number

On By R. PettyIn Story of the MonthLeave a comment

Everyone has a great story – some have dozens, some have hundreds. This month we would like to debut our Story of the Month to highlight those stories that we will always remember. We hope you enjoy our quirky, weird, and often funny true stories.

Story of the month header with quill and ink

Wrong Number

A few weeks ago, I pulled into the driveway and checked my phone for texts. I had one (big surprise), but this was from a number I didn’t recognize. It read:

Hey Steve this is Sarah. Rob gave me your number. There is nothing left for my dad he’s gone. I can’t take this.

Gasp! This poor girl just lost her dad and texted the wrong person. Really?

The dilemma kicked in because I didn’t know what to do. Am I really going to text this person with, “Wrong number” or do I ignore it? She already seemed a little unstable, understandably, so if I ignored it, she may think the intended recipient doesn’t care. Who knows what will happen after that…

After a few minutes of sitting there with an over-active imagination, I responded. I replied the only way I could:

I am so sorry for your loss, but you have the wrong number. I hope you’re ok…

I knew at that moment, that story was a keeper. I felt kind of awful about the wrong number part but felt it was necessary. The girl never responded, but I’d like to think she checked her number, found the right person, and got the shoulder she needed.

So there’s my craziest text to date. Do you have a crazy wrong number story? Feel free to share below!

Writing for Web: Take a Break

On By R. PettyIn Writing for Web and Tips2 Comments

It’ll still be there tomorrow.

I say this a dozen times a week to myself, co-workers, and friends when I see us running ourselves into the ground for work. Unlike most people, I love to work. However, you have to know when to shut the computer down, leave the office or house, and go have a life.

This week’s chapter discusses the revision process and includes a very important step: taking a break.

It’s very easy to let work consume us, especially if we’re excited about the project or obsessed with deadlines. When you’re writing, you have to know when to take a break or put the first draft down for a few days. Felder recommends these tips, and I added my secrets, too:

  • Watch a movie, good or bad. Sometimes a bad movie is just as good because you can tear it apart or make fun of it. Slasher movies are great for this. Reruns of your favorite shows are an option as well because they can make you laugh, cry, or reignite excitement.
  • Soak in a bubble bath. Relaxation can do wonders for your mind and body.
  • Pick a hobby. Hobbies are great for releasing stress and taking your mind off of your project. A good workout has the same effect and keeps you healthy.
  • Call or hang out with friends, but don’t talk about your writing. Just enjoy good company and maybe a drink.
  • Immerse yourself in nature. Stop for a moment and literally smell the roses, watch the sunset or moon, and wish upon a shooting star.

How do you decide what changes need to be made?

Once you are refreshed and ready, it’s time to rewrite. Felder’s tips for changing your perspective are very helpful, and I was surprised by her ideas. For the full list, check out Chapter 13.

  • Zoom in or out of your document. This either forces you to focus on one scene or the big picture.
  • Print a hard copy and read the entire thing from beginning to end. You don’t have to do this in one sitting; treat it like a magazine or book. Look for plot holes, confusing sections, and flow.
  • Read it aloud. You will hear how it sounds and decide if it drags or doesn’t make sense. I do this with every manuscript I read, and I recommend every author do this on their own before every giving it to an editor. Especially the dialogue.
  • Let someone else read it. Most of us do not like criticism, but if you are going to put your stuff out there, get used to it. Take the feedback gracefully, keep your negative attitude to yourself, and take suggestions seriously. The person who reads it is only trying to make it better.

This was one of my favorite chapters because it covered things that are as important as all the technical writing stuff. You must take care of yourself before you can do anything else. Stepping away for an allotted time will not only make your work better, it makes you better.

What do you do to take a break from work or writing? Share your tips!

Need a two-minute break, check out tough-guy Dean from Supernatural.