Category Archives: Thoughts

Cinequest 2024 – Debbie’s Summary

The Cinequest Film and Creativity Festival started in 1990 in San Jose, California. It’s grown since then, so much so that this year, there were over 80 World Premieres programmed. And the silent cinema came back! The Mark of Zorro, … Continue reading

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Cinequest 2022: The Day I Found a Girl in the Trash

The Day I Found a Girl in the Trash is a near-future science fiction story. Typically near-future SF is anywhere from five to ten years out from “today.” This allows the writer/producer to focus on a smaller aspect of change. Continue reading

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Why I Judge Books by Their Cover

Book Judgement is someplace where I can review and express my love for the manufacture of books, the binding, typography… Continue reading

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Cinequest 2018: Little Women

Louisa May Alcott wrote Little Women 150 years ago, and [amazon asin=0147514010&text=the classic novel] has been made into several movies since. This year the newest version is showing at Cinequest! First-time Director Claire Niederpruem retells this ageless story in a modern setting. Continue reading

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Cinequest 2018: Hunting Lands

The Hunting Lands invites us along for a hunter’s pursuit, stalking a killer of a different kind. Continue reading

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How Many PowerPoints in the World?

“How much PowerPoint is there in the world?” Does it matter? Should be bother trying to figure it out? And who does it help in the end? Continue reading

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The Dark Tower – Defending the Rose

The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed.
Probably the best opening line in literature. Yeah, better than Call me Ishmael.
(Seriously Ishmael, I was just asking you for a name to write on your coffee cup!) Continue reading

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Not the book you expect… the one you need.

Right off the top, this is not the book you expect. This is no a paint-by-number, 15 steps to being a better communicator, lightweight feel-good-about-your-limitations book for snowflakes. This is a book that expects you to learn and remember the keys to memory. This is a deep book, but clear in its ability to guide you through an area of learning that far too few have mastered. It is an honest representation of the author’s voice, a voice that I’ve personally enjoyed listening to a number of conventions. In short, if you’re ready for the next step in making your business communications something that your audience remembers and acts upon, it’s here. Continue reading

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Cinequest 2016: Sight Unseen Recommendations

Now that Cinequest is fully upon us, I need to touch on a small subject of interest to those of you going to the festival. There are WAY too many great films to see everything. Way too many. And some are terribly hard to review for reasons that will be obvious in a few paragraphs. But luckily those same programs are very easy to recommend, and do fall on my “Don’t Miss” list.
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Cinequest 2016: The Brainwashing of My Dad

A longer commute, talk radio, a loving father turns into an angry, bitter, obsessive… brainwashed by a poisonous media. Continue reading

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What does Bill Gates read?

I find Bill Gates fascinating because he’s always surprising me with some new way to think about something we all think we already know. Continue reading

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The Fibonacci Method of Dealing with Difficult Clients

I love a good Fibonacci sequence, especially one with humor. And a friend (thanks, Rob) recently shared a priceless pricelist that did just that. We’ve all dealt with those folks who want to be much more involved in the process than is good for them or you. These are typically the ones who want you… Continue reading

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Pebble Time Unboxing

I love the unboxing experience, even when it’s simply unzipping a package and unfolding the cover… Continue reading

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Is GMC In on the Joke?

Allow me to digress. Have to admit that I will listen to a song whose lyrics I don’t necessarily like if it’s got a good beat and I can dance to it. Well, maybe just a good beat, kicky riff, … Continue reading

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They Called Me Spock

I admired Nimoy for this, and followed his career unflinchingly through everything from Mission Impossible to Fringe. And of course I enjoyed all his characters, as well as whatever speaking engagements I was able to attend, and his writing. But it they never spoke to me like Spock. Continue reading

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The Beauty of Books

In 1981 an Italian artist, architect, and industrial designer named Luigi Serafini worked for three years crafting an alien artifact that pushed the concepts of beauty, alienation, and book craft to new dimensions. Serafini created a tome, thick and large, embellished with impenetrable glyphs and symbols that by style and repetition of forms can be nothing but a language, but one no human has ever spoken.
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Did I say there was confusion…?

New prank to get people to destroy their own brand new iPhones is apparently working, reinforcing my prior column about how marketing needs to better explain what wireless charging is really all about. Continue reading

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Just checking in…

Why wear two watches? And why don’t they tell the same time? A bit of a puzzle of course.

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Warning Wunderlist Users!

          UPDATE: Apparently @WunderlistHelp just tweeted the following. Wunderlist Support‏@WunderlistHelp If you’re missing lists, they are safe. Please sign out and back in again. So sorry for the trouble! I have not tried this, will check … Continue reading

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Open Letter to Michael Bay

Dear Michael Bay I watched you get messed up by Samsung’s presentation support staff at CES yesterday. You’re probably aware that it’s all over the net now, likely a skit on SNL this weekend and maybe you’ll make The Daily … Continue reading

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