December 10, 2021
Random Acts… A plug for Heartmob and holiday movies
As a journalist, I rarely plug specific causes. Instead, I write stories and columns, in hopes of moving people’s hearts. But I’m going to make an exception today…
If you, or someone you know is being harassed online, sign up to stress-test the updated Heartmob, Hollabeck’s platform where those experiencing online abuse can share their stories and get help. This stress test is being held to tweak the platform before it officially re-launches, with design changes made possible by Craig Newmark Philanthropies.
Newmark, the founder and creator of Craigslist, says, “I’ve seen a lot of pointless online abuse, harassment, over the last 30 years, and it really pisses me off. I’ve been and am being targeted by professionals, and really wish Heartmob was around to minimize ongoing damage.”
In addition to the relaunch of Heartmob, the Coalition Against Online Violence’s Online Violence Response Hub was set up to support women and gender-expansive journalists who are especially targeted for their gender, and just for doing their jobs.
I hope you’ll support both efforts.
And last, but not least, here’s a plug for my new movie. Yes, in addition to my journalism work, I write movies.
Hope you’ll watch “Christmas Takes Flight,” which premieres on CBS on Sunday, Dec. 19 at 8 p.m. Eastern/Pacific, and will be available on demand after that on Paramount+. “Christmas Takes Flight” is one of two new CBS holiday films, marking the network’s return to the genre for the first time in 10 years.
The other CBS holiday film, “A Christmas Proposal,” airs this Sunday, Dec. 12 at 8:30 p.m. Eastern/8 p.m. Pacific and stars an all-Latinx cast in a story that shares the joy of the season in a way that all families can relate to.
The stars and writers of both movies just participated in a Twitter Spaces conversation about holiday movies that you can listen to by clicking on the link below:
‘Tis The Season: A CBS Original Holiday Movie Conversation 🎄🍿 via Twitter Spaces
There will be silence at the beginning, but hang in there, and people will start talking after a couple of minutes. I had some technical difficulties with my microphone, and will chime in around the 20-minute mark.
You can also catch my holiday movie, “Christmas Inheritance,” on Netflix.
It was great fun writing these films. If you like heartwarming, positive rom-coms, these movies are totally worth watching, if I do say so myself.
Happy holidays!
Random Acts… Mysteries tease the brain for answers
The mysteries of life start popping into conversations as soon as two-year-olds start asking, “Why?”
For young readers, the mystery genre forces our minds to contemplate all sides of a question. In order to solve a riddle, we have to be open-minded enough to look at different perspectives.
If you’re still holiday shopping, there are a couple of great books out for the middle school reader (ages 10 and up).
“Cold-Blooded Myrtle” by Elizabeth C. Bunce (Algonquin Young Readers, 360 pp) is the latest in the Myrtle Hardcastle Mystery series, featuring a 12-year-old Victorian amateur sleuth and Young Lady of Quality who lives in the quiet village of Swinburne, England. Myrtle’s father, the town prosecutor, is a widower who tries to curb his daughter’s interest in criminology, but somehow, she always manages to stumble onto the town’s latest murder.
Aiding Myrtle in her investigations is her unflappable governess from French Guiana, Miss Ada Judson, who brings both calm and a diverse modern woman’s perspective to the scene.
“Cold-Blooded Murder” takes place at Christmastime before the turn of the century, when the owner of Leighton’s Mercantile is found dead the morning his annual Yuletide display is to be unveiled. The murder is somehow connected to Myrtle’s deceased mother, and she’s determined to follow clues that are likely to put her and Miss Judson in danger.
Along the way, Myrtle shares little tidbits that are interesting factoids, such as noting that the word scapegoat’s meaning today doesn’t match its origins. “It was once an actual goat released into the wilderness to carry away the sins of the people, escaping unharmed (theoretically, anyway) – while another, more unlucky goat was sacrificed.”
For those interested in exploring the meaning of life, the Japanese classic “How Do You Live?” by Genzaburo Yoshino (Algonquin Young Readers, 280 pp) offers much for young minds (and old) to chew on.
The foreword to the English translation was written by Neil Gaiman, who read the book because famed filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki is basing his next film on it. Miyazaki is known for amazing animated films like “Spirited Away,” “Howl’s Moving Castle” and “Ponyo.”
But back to “How Do You Live?” Gaiman calls it “such a strange book, and such a wise book.” Written in two voices, the first perspective is shared by Copper, a 15-year-old boy whose father has died. The second voice is that of his uncle, who writes to Copper in a journal, sharing advice that all young teens should ponder.
The author, who wrote the book in 1937, crafts the story of a pre-war teenager in Japan, dealing with friendship, bullying, social class and bravery.
To be honest, the first 100 pages seemed dull. But after that, the book was full of important questions. When the uncle writes about social class, he reminds Copper that those who work at menial tasks (think garbage haulers, gardeners, cooks and those who make life easy for those who have money) are “the very ones bearing this entire world on their shoulders…
“Without the labor of those people, we would have no civilization, and without that, there would be no progress for society. And what about you? What will you create? You take many things from the world, but I wonder what you will give back in return?”
He reminds Copper that the world was built by people working together. The book was written prior to World War II, when Japan was becoming increasingly militaristic and authoritarian. Yoshino, who had attended political meetings, was arrested and imprisoned for 18 months.
After his release, he wrote this book, encouraging readers to think for themselves, and stand up for others in troubled times. It’s a message that is clearly still relevant today.
After all, solving the mysteries of life starts by answering the question, how do you live?
Dinah Eng 