Because of the work schedule and need to focus on a mission, Latter-day Saint missionaries aren't supposed to watch television, or go to the movies, or to read material that doesn't belong to the mission library (scriptures and a few other religious works.) The first two were not a struggle to give up when I went but the last one was. But since I knew about it well in advance, I decided to give myself a little reward before I went to serve: as soon as I came home, I was going to read all five of Orson Scott Card's Homecoming novels, mostly because I really like Card's work and this was one series I hadn't gotten to.
I still haven't read the Homecoming series. In fact, I haven't read any of Card's fiction since coming home. I don't really know why; it's just that whenever I start thinking about Card, I find another book in front of me and his fiction keeps getting put to the side.
Nevertheless, I am thoroughly hooked on his weekly column, Uncle Orson Reviews Everything (and he does review everything.) He's funny, he's informative, I appreciate his candor, and even on the few occasions that I disagree with him, I'm satisfied with the reasons why he sees things the way he does.
One of the best parts of his column is on the subject of education. Some time ago, he mentioned The Great Courses, which sounded really cool and I had to check it out. Went to the website and gasped. The prices were incredible, which is fair. These are college-level courses and college is expensive, but here, you're not getting a degree. Still, education is education and assuming that I have a steady job, these would be worth the money.
Fortunately, I have a nice compromise. Turns out my local library has a few of The Great Courses to borrow. This is exciting and terrifying. I mean, if one DVD gets scratched, I owe them for the whole thing. But I'm responsible and don't worry too much on that: I can't believe the free knowledge I'm getting from this! My first course I took was on Philosophy and the Natural Rights of Man. I didn't get to finish it because I was running out of time (these are long courses.) I could have renewed but I found one that was even more exciting to me: 12 hours worth of lecture on the Old Testament from their Religion section.
This is just my taste. They have courses in all subjects from Math to History. I recommend checking them out if you can. It's great stuff.
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I've seen a made-for-TV version of The Miracle Worker before and the story of Helen Keller continues to fascinate me after all these years. The story is not really about her life but the small portion of childhood where Anne Sullivan helped Helen discover how to communicate and join civilization.
I just saw the 1962 black-and-white version, starring Anne Bankcroft and Patty Duke, and it wrapped me in from start-to-finish. This is the best version I've seen so far. The story is still the same as it was from the other film I saw, and since it's based on a play, I can't imagine that anybody would stray too far from the material.
What made this one a winner for me was the near ten-minute fight Sullivan has getting Helen to eat her lunch right. There is almost no talking at all during the sequence; both actresses held the screen by their mere presence on screen. It was by far the most dramatic scene for me since it was the first time anybody actually tried to parent her; her parents clearly couldn't handle disciplining the brat and Sullivan refused to let her behave like an animal but as a little lady.
Oh, and it makes me laugh. Helen spitting food in Sullivan's face only for Sullivan to splash water all over her. That was the best moment of all. That is one of the best statements of the parent-child relationship that I've ever seen.
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