Tuesday, January 31, 2017

Report on My Resolution

© by Gerald So | 5:30 A.M.

At the beginning of the month, I blogged about how January has traditionally been a lethargic month for me despite being the hyped start of an all-new year, and I resolved simply to enjoy the month more. Except for four days of illness last week, I did have a more productive, pleasant month.

Saturday, January 21, 2017

New Term's Resolution

© by Gerald So | 3:30 A.M.

I avoided watching the inauguration yesterday, but then I haven't watched any inauguration live. I voted for Hillary Clinton over Donald Trump, but I don't feel either represents me particularly well.

As the results came in on election night, I prepared myself to have Trump as president. I don't know if Russian hacking, the FBI, or WikiLeaks helped him win; they didn't sway my vote. As long as Trump's win isn't overturned, however, I have to live with him as president.

Not that my life will change in any way I can see. I've always tried to do the most good for the most people, put the many ahead of myself. I've always been in the minority. Individuality is the ultimate minority after all. My identity, my values, my responsibilities don't change with the president.

Thursday, January 12, 2017

LOIS LANE: FALLOUT by Gwenda Bond

© by Gerald So | 3:00 P.M.

Two weeks ago via Twitter, I learned about Gwenda Bond's YA series with DC Comics' legendary Lois Lane as protagonist and was immediately interested.

The first book, Fallout finds sixteen-year-old Lois recently moved with her Army family. Her first day at East Metropolis High, she sees spelling bee champion Anavi Singh being harassed by the Warheads, a seemingly single-minded clique of VR gamers.

The principal does next-to-nothing, so Lois tries to expose the bullying through her new after-school job at the Daily Planet's teen newspaper, the Daily Scoop. Discovering the Warheads' strange ability to carry out psychic assaults, Lois isn't sure anyone will believe her but an online friend she knows only as SmallvilleGuy.

Though the concept is similar to early seasons of TV's Smallville and has equal potential to resonate with Superman lore, Lois is refreshingly the focus here, wishing she could stay out of trouble long enough to get settled, but nonetheless driven to help Anavi.

Wednesday, January 11, 2017

Thirteen Years of Looking at a Blog

© by Gerald So | 1:30 A.M.

The title of this entry marking this blog's thirteenth anniversary is a nod to Wallace Stevens' "Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird". No, I haven't come up with a poem of my own for the occasion though, thirteen years ago, this blog was supposed to spur my writing. I never further defined what I'd write about here. I had no idea I'd be blogging thirteen years, yet here we are.

This has become the place I sort what else is on my mind so I can get at the poetry and fiction I want to write. Not that I see the connections while writing, and not that I think of this blog as freewriting or a diary. I try to have or arrive at something very clear to say with each post. The more strongly I feel about a topic, the more skillfully I aim write about it.

Sunday, January 01, 2017

New Month's Resolution

© by Gerald So | 3:30 A.M.

For all the hype new years get, Januaries have been tough sledding for me since grade school. Maybe it was the challenge of coming back from Christmas break, but I've come to describe January as a month of Mondays. One of the things I loved about college was having January off between fall and spring semesters.

I'm also not great with new year's resolutions. Again, maybe it's the hype of "everyone" making them. I prefer and have had more success with mid-year resolutions. Last month I resolved to de-clutter my desk's main drawer. That went so well, I also de-cluttered a dresser drawer.

This year, I want to have a better January. That might mean doing more or simply reminding myself to enjoy the month whenever I can. If it goes well, I'll have momentum for February, and so on.