“Believe something and the Universe is on its way to being changed. Because you've changed, by believing. Once you've changed, other things start to follow. Isn't that the way it works?” ― Diane Duane, So You Want to Be a Wizard

Friday, August 12, 2016

The Last Pig .. a haunting tale

Be warned, this film might cause a bit of discomfort. It might challenge your belief system. It may also cause controversy. If so, then it has succeeded.

In the film, The Last Pig, we are introduced to and tag along with a farmer who has had a change of heart. Bob Comis says, "I've taken two thousand pigs to the slaughter house. I've become haunted by the ghosts of those pigs."

When Bob, a farmer and a writer, wrote Happy Pigs Make Happy Meat, his story caught the attention of, among others, an award winning filmmaker, Allison Argo. She recognized in this story the  potential to deliver a powerful message.

We are given a vantage point offering insight into the life of someone who cares very much about the well-being of their animals and how difficult it is to rationalize decisions of who lives and dies or to consider animal lives as less valuable or worthy simply because they are deemed feeder meat. This story deserves a wider audience.

Seeing Bob's life up close and personal and following the interactions he has with his pigs, the bonds they develop, we can understand and empathize with him how hard it is to reconcile his position, knowing the manner in which those relationships are destined to end. 



A gutwrencher.


Clearly this farmer struggled for quite some time before ultimately choosing to step away. Watching that process unfold is powerful and, at least for the filmmaker, life changing. Allison became a vegan after working on this film with the pigs and Bob.

Food for thought. Choices. We have them. Farm animals don't.

A quick note. My stepfather was a farmer and we had pigs on our farm. I raised market barrows as 4-H projects and we tried to save the runts when the odds were against them. A tiny runt named Flower went to school with us. He was such a fighter. I cried when he didn't make it.

Our pigs had names and personalities. I hung pig posters that celebrated their intelligence and yet ... there could be only one result. I was learning about farming and pigs are farm animals.

The most difficult moment came when I sold my first market barrow. We went to the 4-H fair together. Pigs don't come home. At the end of the fair auction, they are sold. I got a check for my pig and a pit in my stomach. And I blocked it. It was part of the lifestyle, a thing we were supposed to accept. One had to have a strong disconnect. I didn't have it that first time. Times change.

Thoughtful and thought provoking, this film raised funds on Indiegogo. Find out more there and follow the progress. Release date is not yet set. Sign up for the newsletter to stay current on the progress.

More insight and background on Bob, the pig farmer who quit - in his story about Esther the Wonder Pig.

Thursday, August 11, 2016

Time out for a Fairy Tale - The Gnomist

Imagine. Smile. Dream light.

Dark trails illumined, sparkles on the trees,
Earth Angels and Forest Pixies sail along the breeze.

Delightful novelty, a sense of wonder in the day,
Fairytale embellishment elevates the play.

Even if and when, without warning or notice, such novelty should depart,
Residing in the echo: captivated heart.

Fantastical element long gone.
Fairy wonder ingrained, ever charming.

A story local to KC, this little gem resurfaced in the news feed. A marriage of the Wendy's Coffeehouse show on Coincidence with Dr. Bernard Beitman (podcast link) and the Atheist in Heaven show with Paul Davids, about Forrest J. Ackerman (podcast link).

Synchronicity here is a highlight on the need for time outs, recreation breaks and minds open to wonder. A light-hearted mystery for children of all ages.

"Come to the forest." -- A walk in the park with The Gnomist --



Fairy Tales for Extra Credit --
Hans Christian Anderson: Link
How the Grimm Brothers saved the Fairy Tale: Link

Pottermore - The adventures continue.

Tuesday, August 9, 2016

Street Cat Named Bob - plays himself

Just in time for summer, a feel good pick me up. Along comes, A Street Cat Named Bob and his co-pilot, James on the big screen.

Catching up with Bob and James Bowen --  news about the movie being made and recapping the road to fame.

The trailer:



Bob plays himself, of course. About the film.

Don't have the book? Here's the link.

The next best thing to a sure bet you'll like it. 1,643 customer reviews gave it 4.7 out of 5 Stars

Go Bob!

And/or choose another from the Bob library -- Bob has a thing for books. (Smile.)

Connect on Facebook - Bob

Buy Bob stuff. Shop ...  

Sunday, August 7, 2016

Dark Horse - the winning element - Love

A horse is the projection of peoples' dreams about themselves - strong, powerful, beautiful - and it has the capability of giving us escape from our mundane existence. - Pam Brown, Author

Do you believe in dreams? This is a Dream story.

"Dark Horse," winner of the World Cinema Documentary Audience Award at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival



Behind the scenes. An interview with the cast:
AOL Build Filmmaker Louise Osmond and the film's subjects, Jan and Brian Vokes

This is a movie about a community and a horse. And the connection to the horse bonds them in a way that is so much more than simply winning a race.

"He was there when I needed him. He saved me from myself." - Jan Vokes on Dream Alliance

Review: Time Magazine

Or for another summer diversion - it's the Secret Life of Pets.
Review: Robert Butler C-

Review: Rolling Stone - Peter Travers - 3 of 4 stars
"All of the animals except for man know that the principle business of life is to enjoy it." ~ Samuel Butler