Month: February 2024

George Eliot, Barsoom/Mars Series, Big Fish, Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, and a Quran Passage

George Eliot, Barsoom/Mars Series, Big Fish, Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, and a Quran Passage

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on February 25, 2024

Sunday Supplement #146 (February 25th, 2024)

Below is another Sunday Supplement with a quote worth sharing, a book worth reading, a movie worth watching, brainfood worth consuming, and a spiritual passage worth pondering.

Please take something away from these recommendations that enriches your week ahead!

Quote of the Week:

“Adventure is not outside man; it is within.”

– George Eliot

Book of the Week:

Barsoom/Mars Series – Edgar Rice Burroughs

Edgar Rice Burroughs wrote the Barsoom books in the early 20th century. The first story appeared in serial form in 1912 for The All-Story magazine before being published as a novel.

Burroughs’s novels follow John Carter in the first few books, a Civil War veteran who gets transported to the dying planet of Mars.

Carter gets thrown into the mix of different cultures and species and finds allies and enemies to fight with and against.

There are 11 novels in the series, and I highly recommend them. For me, this is the epitome of the science fiction and adventure genre.

I nerded out when I started reading these books. They are pretty simple and quick reads but offer an entertaining story each time.

Movie of the Week:

Big Fish

I’ve featured two Tim Burton movies in previous Sunday Supplements, but Big Fish is hands down my favorite that he’s made.

The film’s narrative bookends are a frustrated son’s attempts to discover the true story of his dying father’s life because his father has always previously told him the tall tale version.

Big Fish jumps between the present relationship between the son (played by Billy Crudup) and his father (played by Albert Finney) and the tall tales featuring the young father (played by Ewan McGregor).

The film is based on the novel by Daniel Wallace. Tim Burton brilliantly brings the story to life, and it is a movie I’ve watched over the years and have always enjoyed.

Brainfood of the Week:

What Adventure Means to People Who Do It for a Living | Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity

The Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity is Canada’s leader in arts and culture. They exist to inspire artists and leaders to make their unique contributions to society.

Life-long adventurers from around the globe gather for the Banff Mountain Film and Book Festival in Alberta, Canada. In this video, some adventures discuss what adventure means to them.

Joe Riis (conservationist & filmmaker), Bruce Kirkby (author), Cedar Wright (climber & filmmaker), Pete McBride (photographer), and Cecile Skog (adventurer) are some of the people who speak on adventure.

A takeaway from most of the people who feature in the short video is pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone. I think that’s an essential thing to remember in your life.

Check out the short video to hear some interesting takes on adventure, and give the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity a look if you want to check out more of their stuff.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“Do what is beautiful. Allah loves those who do what is beautiful.”

– Quran 2:195

To me, this Quran passage is a quite simple reminder to pursue beautiful things in life. That can be different things for different people, but I focus on the call to action in the verse.

Often, we can be passive in our lives. We can let days, weeks, months, or years slip by while falling into an unfulfilling routine.

The call to action of doing what is beautiful is a reminder to check in on yourself and ask if you are pursuing beauty in your life.

When I think of beauty, I think of moments where I am present and appreciative of my life. I find beauty in pursuing the activities that bring me joy, learning, and growing.

Pursue beauty, adventure within and without, and have a blessed week ahead!

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Voltaire, Snow Crash, Thank You For Smoking, The School of Life, and a Japanese Proverb

Voltaire, Snow Crash, Thank You For Smoking, The School of Life, and a Japanese Proverb

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on February 18, 2024

Sunday Supplement #145 (February 18th, 2024)

Below is another Sunday Supplement with a quote worth sharing, a book worth reading, a movie worth watching, brainfood worth consuming, and a spiritual passage worth pondering.

Please take something away from these recommendations that enriches your week ahead!

Quote of the Week:

“I have chosen to be happy because it is good for my health.”

– Voltaire

Book of the Week:

Snow Crash – Neal Stephenson

Neal Stephenson is a Hugo, Locus, and Clarke-award-winning author whose works have been classified as Science Fiction and Cyberpunk.

My Uncle recommended Snow Crash to me, and I’m so glad he did. Stephenson’s novels tend to feature themes around history, linguistics, religion, computer science, and philosophy.

Snow Crash is set in the 21st century, several years after the worldwide economic collapse. Los Angeles is no longer part of the U.S. since the government ceded most of its control to entrepreneurs and private organizations.

Hiro Protagonist is the main character, and he is a freelance hacker and pizza delivery driver for the Mafia. He receives a data file in the online Metaverse that turns out to give a virus to the user that carries over to the real world.

Protagonist’s adventure is wild and one I highly recommend. It was nominated for the British Science Fiction Award and the Arthur C. Clarke Award.

Movie of the Week:

Thank You For Smoking

The 2005 satirical comedy Thank You For Smoking passed under the radar for the most part. I didn’t remember hearing anything about it when I watched it, probably five years later.

The film follows Nick Naylor, Big Tobacco’s chief spokesman, who lobbies on behalf of cigarettes while trying to be a role model for his 12-year-old son.

Aaron Eckhart steals the show as Nick Naylor, but there are brilliant performances from the ensemble cast of Maria Bello, Cameron Bright, William H. Macy, J.K. Simmons, Robert Duvall, Adam Brody, Sam Elliott, Katie Holmes, and Rob Lowe.

The film is written and directed by Jason Reitman (Juno, Up in the Air) and is based on the 1994 novel by Christopher Buckley.

Thank You For Smoking is a highly entertaining watch with a surprisingly moral lesson about choice as its central theme.

Brainfood of the Week:

How To Recognize Your Patterns – And Escape Them | The School of Life

The School of Life makes content from psychologists, philosophers, and writers devoted to helping people lead calmer and more resilient lives. I have featured their videos in several previous Sunday Supplements.

In this video, The School of Life discusses how we can lock ourselves in repeated behaviors and narratives that aren’t always pleasant.

The video goes on to discuss a variation of childhood trauma, where we are reenacting old scripts from our childhood that we are trying to process.

I believe another influence on our narratives can be what we are tuned into in our lives: people, environment, media consumption, and things.

The School of Life finishes the video by saying we must find and heal the original traumas. I recommend looking into therapy if that’s an available option.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“Good fortune and happiness will come into the house of those who smile.” (笑う門には福来たる)

– Japanese Proverb

I think this Japanese proverb is one you make a default setting for yourself. I try to notice more when I’m unhappy so I can see if there’s something I can do about it.

There will be many situations and times when you are in a difficult place, which is more than okay. But I believe you should make sure your natural disposition is a positive one.

I take the meaning of the Japanese proverb as both literal and metaphorical. For both, smiling is a way to welcome positive things into your experience.

This proverb is a good reminder for me to keep an eye out for whether or not I’m going through my days with a smile.

Choose to smile as often as possible and appropriate, and have a blessed week ahead!

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Zora Neale Hurston, The Princess Bride, Dirty Dancing, Wentworth Miller, and a Bible Passage

Zora Neale Hurston, The Princess Bride, Dirty Dancing, Wentworth Miller, and a Bible Passage

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on February 11, 2024

Sunday Supplement #144 (February 11th, 2024)

Below is another Sunday Supplement with a quote worth sharing, a book worth reading, a movie worth watching, brainfood worth consuming, and a spiritual passage worth pondering.

Please take something away from these recommendations that enriches your week ahead!

Quote of the Week:

“Love makes your soul crawl out from its hiding place.”

– Zora Neale Hurston

Book of the Week:

The Princess Bride – William Goldman

Most people know The Princess Bride from the 1987 film of the same name. I featured the movie in Sunday Supplement #108.

I’m a huge fan of the movie, and I always wanted to read the book. I finally did earlier last year, and I loved it. The book was like an extended cut of the movie, which makes sense.

The novel follows a fictionalized Goldman as he attempts to gift his son the book his father read him as a child.

Goldman discovers that the actual book is much more dense than the version his father read. He proceeds to write his version, which encapsulates one of the best love stories in fantasy.

It’s so hard to encapsulate in a brief blurb, but I highly recommend the book to anyone who loves the movie. And if you haven’t seen the movie, give it a watch.

Movie of the Week:

Dirty Dancing

The 1987 film Dirty Dancing is one of my favorite feel-good movies to put on. The music, the dancing choreography, the acting, and the story are wonderful.

Dirty Dancing follows Baby Houseman, played by Jennifer Grey, as she spends her summer at a Catskills resort with her family. She falls in love with the camp’s dance instructor, Johnny Castle, played by Patrick Swayze.

The film was nominated for one Academy Award, Best Music – Original Song, and won the Oscar for the song “(I’ve Had) The Time Of My Life.”

I delved into a lot of classic films while I was in high school. I wasn’t sure if I’d like Dirty Dancing, but it was on too many top film lists to ignore.

I’m glad I watched it back because I still enjoy the film today. I highly recommend it for a fun movie about summer love.

Brainfood of the Week:

Wentworth Miller | Full Q&A | Oxford Union

Oxford Union is one of the most prestigious debating societies. The institution is renowned for bringing international guests and speakers for discussion and debate.

In this video, actor, writer, gay rights and mental health advocate Wentworth Miller discusses a variety of topics, including his experiences with depression.

In responding to a question about his experience with depression, Miller discusses talking to yourself in a way that is loving and supportive.

Miller goes on to talk about how he knew how to support friends in crisis, but his response wasn’t always kind when he was in crisis. If he spoke to his friends like he spoke to himself, he would have no friends. So, he started to pay attention to how he talked to himself.

I’ve put the link for this video to start when Miller receives the question about his experience with depression, but the whole video is worth watching.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“Let all that you do be done in love.”

– 1 Corinthians 16:14

There are many Bible passages about love, but I think this one sums up where our actions should originate.

Love can be assumed to mean only good things, but I believe love also means being open, honest, and from the heart.

Being nice can often be a way to avoid confrontation. But I believe if you are operating from love, you wouldn’t avoid challenging situations.

That doesn’t mean you have to be mean, but I think operating from a place of love means connecting with your truth.

Express your love, and have a blessed week ahead!

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Troy Palamalu, Tao Te Ching, Concussion, Jordan Peterson, and a Bhagavad Gita Passage

Troy Palamalu, Tao Te Ching, Concussion, Jordan Peterson, and a Bhagavad Gita Passage

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on February 4, 2024

Sunday Supplement #143 (February 4th, 2024)

Below is another Sunday Supplement with a quote worth sharing, a book worth reading, a movie worth watching, brainfood worth consuming, and a spiritual passage worth pondering.

Please take something away from these recommendations that enriches your week ahead!

Quote of the Week:

“Playing professional sports, it’s important to eat healthy and take care of your body. In the offseason, rest is really important to me.”

– Troy Polamalu

Book of the Week:

Tao Te Ching – Lao Tzu (Ursula K. Le Guin)

Lao Tzu was a philosopher of Ancient China and is considered by some the founder of Taoism. The Tao Te Ching is a central Taoist text.

Ursula K. Le Guin studied the Tao Te Ching for over forty years. She consulted the literal translations and worked with Chinese scholars for her translation.

Le Guin’s version has wonderful footnotes of her thoughts on various verses. I’m a huge fan of the Hugo and Nebula Award-winning author and featured her in Sunday Supplement #44.

In verse form, the Tao Te Ching describes the ideal existence, the Tao, the Way. The poems of the text have much beauty and depth.

Though the text is relatively short, I took my time reading it. I found myself pondering the contents of a poem for a while, sometimes putting the book down to let the verse sink in.

Movie of the Week:

Concussion

The 2015 biographical sports drama Concussion stars Will Smith as Bennet Omalu, a forensic pathologist who goes up against the NFL for trying to suppress his research.

Omalu’s work focuses on chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) brain degeneration suffered by professional American football players.

Peter Landesman wrote and directed the film based on the exposé “Game Brain” published in GQ magazine by Jeanne Marie Laskas.

Concussion didn’t get the best reviews or make the most money at the box office, but I thought it was a story worth portraying on the screen and that there was much to appreciate.

Brainfood of the Week:

Workaholics and the Importance of Rest | Jordan B. Peterson

I’ve featured Jordan Peterson in a couple of previous Sunday Supplements with the caveat that I don’t agree with everything he says, but his lectures are worth a listen.

Peterson is a clinical psychologist and author of bestselling self-help books and more than one hundred scientific papers.

In this clip, Peterson discusses the necessity of rest. He starts by quoting the Bible’s passage on God’s creation of the world and his resting on the seventh day.

He then discusses the utility of rest. The obvious is not burning yourself out so you can’t get back to work for an extended period. The other aspect I thought interesting was rest gives you a chance to reflect.

Give the video a watch if it piques your interest. You can take away what is useful to you and disregard the rest.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“There is no possibility of one’s becoming a yogi if one eats too much or eats too little, sleeps too much or does not sleep enough.”

– Bhagavad Gita 6:16

I think this Bhagavad Gita verse is an interesting insight into the necessity of moderation in our day-to-day lives.

A yogi is a practitioner of Yoga— not solely the physical exercise popular in Western culture, but rather an encompassing group of physical, mental, and spiritual practices or disciplines that aim to still the mind.

Depending on the circumstances, an occasional excess or deprivation seems perfectly reasonable to me.

However, the necessity of regular sleep and a steady diet seems obvious, but it’s something we can often ignore.

Make sure you’re resting appropriately, and have a blessed week ahead!

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